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CONTACT: PT+351 914 922 036 | UK OFFICE +44(0) 203 592 6789 | USA +1 601 691 1028 FEATURED PIECES: PERRY DINING CHAIR; DOLLY COFFEE TABLE, SOPHIA SOFA; CRAIG CONSOLE; MILES TABLE LAMP; BRUBECK WALL LAMP; BRUBECK SUSPENSION LAMP
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MID-CENTURY DESIGN WITH A MODERN TWIST
PT +351 915 509 359 | UK +44 0207 193 7218 | USA +1 601 691 1028 WWW.ESSENTIALHOME.EU | INFO@ESSENTIALHOME.EU FEATURED PIECES: IVETE PALM TREE, FLOOR LIGHT; LOREN, ARMCHAIR; MULLIGAN, BOOKCASE; HOPPMAN, SIDE TABLE; AMY, TABLE LAMP.
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ART DEPARTMENT Art Director Micael Carvalho Senior Designer Carina Sá Junior Designer Inês Ferreira Patrícia Soares Alexandra Sousa
Fashion Editor Gabriel Adão
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Redactorial team Bruno Pião Cláudia Fernandes Diana Morais Dídia Sousa Eunice Tavares Gabriel Adão Luísa Vieira Patrícia Pinho Paulo Figueiredo Ricardo Ribeiro Salomé Peixoto Sofia Silva Soraia Gomes Virgínia Valente
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CONTENTS Dec 2018 / Jan 2019
NEWS & TRENDS 018 Trendfile by Essential Home 022 News & trends worldwide 030 Culture. A new creative hub. 034 Ourivesaria Tavares 036 Limited Edition Once Upon a Time By Boca Do Lobo and Vista Alegre 038 A Coveting new experience arises when Luxury and gastronomy Celebrate Design Together 040 Covet NYC INSPIRATIONS 044 Colour trends for 2019 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW 052 with Karen Howes 056 with Tim Mutton PROJECTS 058 Gran Hotel Inglés Madrid, Spain 062 Chateau De Drudas, France 064 Echersky Complex Kiev, Ukraine 066 Ch Tea Room Kobe, Kobe, Japan 068 Su House Stuggart, Germany BOOKS WE COVET 072 What Colours Are Next? 074 Spectrum: Heritage Patterns And Colours ARCHITECTURE 076 Europacity Paris
STYLE ICONS 078 Pantone Obsession TRENDBOOK 082 Book Forecasts Future Trends For The Home And Interiors. DESIGN GALLERIST 084 Alchemy Of Colou HOTELS WE COVET 090 Vila Vita Parc behind the scenes 104 Relais & Châteaux Parc & Spa Georges Blanc 106 Od Barcelona Hotel 108 Fairmont Rey Juan Carlos I 112 Le Saint-James Relais & Châteaux 114 Four Seasons hotel Prague SPA 116 Estoril Wellness center WORLD’S FINEST RESTAURANTS 118 Laurent at hotel café Royal 122 RIFF 124 Fortaleza do Guincho 125 Belvedere Ristorante 126 Ocean At Vila Vita Parc 128 Casa De Chá Da Boa Nova 130 Le Pressoir D’argent Gordon Ramsay FASHION 134 Colours. A Perception of Reality or Fashion’s Nature?
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E D I TO R ’ S L
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Dear readers, This issue is all about colour and how it will influence Interiors, Design and Fashion in 2019. From books we covet and decorating with colour using a mid-century modern style, to trend forecasting for next year, our Pantone obsession and CovetED’s very own selection of favourite trends regarding Colour and how it can be used in Interior Design and Fashion. We continue to explore the treasures of craftsmanship, presenting the new project CULTURE CREATIVE HUB. Created by COVET FOUNDATION with the focus of challenging the ancestral arts through design and projecting them into the future, CULTURE promotes a space of discussion, bringing together artisans, artists and designers for an unexpected link between Arts&Crafts and Design. You will find out a lot more about this project in the next pages. On News&Trends, we bring you the latest news of the industry as usual. I would like to highlight the new project COVET NYC, a new luxury design experience in New York which is shaking the interior design industry worldwide. Speaking of luxury experiences, have you ever wondered how a luxury hotel works behind the scenes to deliver the best possible one? CovetED spent a week at Vila Vita Parc, one of the Leading Hotels of the world, for you to find out. Also don’t miss out interviews to top interior designers Karen Howes and Tim Mutton, whom we loved to meat in person, and the beautiful projects worldwide created by the world’s leading professionals of the industry. PS: If you are looking for extra inspiration, visit ou Youtube Channel: COVETED MAGAZINE. I wish you a wonderful new year full of love and success!
EDITOR IN CHIEF
WWW.LUXXU.NET | INFO@LUXXU.NET ANGUIS SOFA | BABEL PENDANT
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TREND FILE//
MID-CENTURY INSPIRATION AT ITS BEST WITH THE NEW 2019 COLOUR TRENDS As the years go by, there are a lot of changes in the design world. With each year, new colours are brought forward, new materials, new personalities and ideas, new brands and products that revolutionise it. As we get ready for 2019, one thing never changes: the mid-century style still hasn’t gone out of fashion. Timeless and passionate, elegant and sophisticated, Mid-Century is a go-to for interior designers all over the world. But what happens when you mix mid-century with the new colour trends for 2019? Come with us and find out the incredible world created with hand-crafted furniture pieces and the newest colour trends in interior design. When we think of mid-century, we think of colour, glamour, elegance and dramatism. We think of families gathered around the living room, a hint of charm in the air, a taste of freedom. Mid-century provides us with that, even after all these years.
Now, with a contemporary and modern twist, you get the never-ending and trendy attractiveness of the vintage style but always with a spin, always with the modernity you seek for your home. That brings us right back to colour, one of the most important aspects of the mid-century style. Take Neo Mint or Purist Blue, two of the most awaited colour trends for the year 2019, and watch magic come to life with ease in three simple steps. First, upholstery with a mix of materials, velvet or maybe a hint of leather if you’re absolutely in love with the classicism of mid-century. The Ellen armchair (see next page) is always a good option, a comfortable chair that provides you with all the mid-century elements but with a modern charm in its design that is irresistible. Second, colour, easily achievable with Essential Home’s customizable products that allow you to bring colour into your life in the easiest and most aesthetically pleasing way. Third, make it elegant and sophisticated. All it takes is tones of gold, possible with the trendiest materials such as polished brass.
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Ellen dining chair in Cantaloupe
Marie dining chair in Mellow Yellow by Essential Home
Monocles sideboard in Mellow Yellow by Essential Home Collins dining chair in Cantaloupe by Essential Home
Kelly bar chair in Mellow Yellow by Essential Home
Cantaloupe and Mellow Yellow comes to us this new year in
2019 will be all about choosing warmth for the entire family
the form of sophisticated leather and incredible golden polished
with mid-century pieces that are a miracle. A stunning mirror
brass. Two of the colour trends for 2019 you will want to ap-
with golden undertones, reflecting the happiness in your home
ply to your home decor, it is more than just a simple yellow or
and elongating it to every person and every division; a classic
rich orange… it’s the definition of pop art and the sun rays hit-
armchair upholstered in leather, sober and casual, perfect for a
ting the window and illuminating that metallic sideboard that
zen moment; a side table of incredible duality and harmony, in
has always been your favourite, the one with your most prized
black and white marble to contrast with the colourful Mellow
framed family pictures. It’s a call for Summer, it’s the memory of
Yellow and Cantaloupe; and last, but certainly not least, the
glamorous times. These are colours that will forever stay in your
powerful and hypnotising Monocles sideboard, your new favou-
heart, warming your soul.
rite furniture piece, taken straight out of the Hollywood scene into your home in no time.
TREND FILE// Madalaine suspension lamps in Black by DelightFULL
Coltrane suspension lamps in Black by DelightFULL
Novak sofa in Black leather by Essential Home
Collins bar chair in Black by Essential Home Reeves chair in Black by Essential Home
From Essential Home straight to your living room comes this
Fill your life with colour with the newest trends. Essential Home
incredible mid-century inspiration. Laughter fills the air as the
brings you the feel of the mid-century vintage in true works of
sound of popping champagne echoes through the room, a mem-
art, in the form of furniture pieces that are handcrafted by mas-
ory of what had been, and what could be in your home. It’s the
ter artisans that deliver the highest quality of design directly to
patterned colourful dresses and navy blue suits of guests having
your home. It’s not only just pieces of colour, trendy materials
a drink, it’s the twinkling of lights that call out for the glamorous
and incredible design, but also with identity, soul and history. As
side of the home decor, the sounds of the wonderful jazz music
you sit back on that armchair or sofa, set your drink aside on that
played on the Vynil record player. It’s the memories of chatter
centre or side table, lay down on the upholstered bed or even en-
all around, of happiness and laughter, of smiles and joy, families
ter your home and step on that patterned coloured rug, and you
coming together and friends gathered once again for a good time.
are taken a trip back in time. When decorating your home, these are the kind of pieces that you should be looking for.
Now, years later, it’s back. A Black leather sofa is a modernity you need to pair so greatly with a vintage rug, a grey patterned
When decorating the living room, let your focus point be the cen-
beauty as versatile as the rest of the pieces. Konstantin side table
tre table, the centre of the room, the one that will harmonise the
stands with pride next to the sofa, a piece of design that mixes
remaining pieces. Whether bold or simple, you will find it dictating
the best of mid-century with a contemporary twist. Years later,
the tone for the rest of the space. The Craig centre table brings you
it’s the memories of the past mixing with the present and the
the best of the trendiest materials for 2019, marble and polished
future, it’s all at once in your home, bringing what’s best in the
brass come together for a unique piece that you just won’t be able
world of design right to your doorstep.
to resist. Pair it with a velvet sofa and armchair, comfortable for the whole family, as well as a patterned rug, and you are ready to conquer the world… or at least your guests’ hearts.
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NEWS & TRENDS WORLDWIDE
PES-ARCHITECTS UNVEILS CONTEMPORARY CULTURAL & ART CENTRE IN CHINA The latest project of Helsinki and Shanghai-based firm, PESArchitects is a phenomenal Strait Culture and Art Centre in Fuzhou, China, comprised of five buildings whose design and structure were inspired by the petals of jasmine blossom, a coveting symbol of the city. The firm used custom-developed ceramic tiles and louvres in order to create the overlapping effect of the flower and its curvaceous lines. A 1,600-seat opera house, a 1,000-seat concert hall, a 700-seat multi-functional theatre, an exhibition gallery and a cinema centre will be a part of this remarkable project.
THE PLENUM™ SERIES: THE FIRST CONTRACT FURNITURE COLLECTION BY JAIME HAYON & FRITZ HANSEN Jaime Hayon and Fritz Hansen have collaborated in their very first contract furniture collection, entitled the Plenum™ series. The project revolves around the concept of “privacy furniture”, where concentration and relaxation are its key fundaments. The collection is comprised of a trio of seating options that can either be grouped together or separately and can be used in a wide variety of environments, from office designs to airports and hotel lobbies.
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NEWS & TRENDS //
FOSCARINI LAUNCHES NEW OUTDOOR LIGHTING DESIGN FOR THE TWIGGY FAMILY Foscarini has launched a new outdoor piece for their extraordinarily creative Twiggy Family, the Twice as Twiggy Grid Floor Lamp. This marvellous outdoor lighting design features architectural details and an iconic shape just like most designs from the renowned lighting company. The lighting brand completely reinvented this design by adding a lightweight basket-weave composite shade that sways effortlessly under tough weather conditions. The long stem of the lamp is made of materials initially manufactured for fishing rods, to counter-balance weight and create a graceful curve that hovers in the air. This unique piece also has a LED integrated design and is available as a suspension lamp. Its body is comprised of a coated fibreglassbased composite material, PMMA, coated metal and aluminium.
MEET THE GLOBE TROTTER COLLECTION BY MARCEL WANDERS FOR ROCHE BOBOIS
ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS SET TO BUILD PHILHARMONIC CONCERT HALL IN RUSSIA The internationally acclaimed architecture practice, Zaha Hadid Architects has been chosen to design the new Sverdlovsk Philharmonic Concert Hall in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The group of architects led by Patrik Schumacher were selected after an arduous international design competition that was organised by the region’s ministry of construction and infrastructure beating out 47 teams with a unique proposal. ZHA has imagined an exceptional building inspired by the physical characteristics of sound waves. This new re-interpretation of the building will feature a 1,600-seat concert hall as well as a 400-seat chamber music hall. Both spaces will be located within the surface deformations of the suspended canopy, that appears to float right above the new civic plaza.
The renowned French design firm, Roche Bobois and the beloved Dutch designer, Marcel Wanders joined forces to create an epic interior design collection of furniture, lighting designs and accessories, entitled Globe Trotter. This sophisticated collection was inspired by the Montgolfier brothers, who were the creators of the hot air balloon and it is bound to take anyone on an adventurous and awe-inspiring journey. The two leading design forces were able to majestically combine history with fabled adventures, giving origin to a whimsical and cheerful design collection that is comprised of rugs, chairs, tables, sofas, lamps, sideboards and other elements.
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NATE BERKUS & JEREMIAH BRENT LAUNCH OUTSTANDING HOME FURNITURE LINE FOR LIVING SPACES The design power couple, Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent have partnered up with the renowned home furnishings company, Living Spaces to create an outstanding collection of sofas, sectionals, upholstered chairs and accessories. From minimalist and elegant sectionals to deep-hued upholstered velvet chairs, the products from this collection were actually inspired by the duo’s own home decor, travels and favourite items that they have gathered through the years. Perfect to create the most exquisite and sumptuous living room set, the collection is best described by a unique sense of sophistication and timelessness.
PETER MARINO STYLISHLY DESIGNS NEW BVLGARI FLAGSHIP STORE IN SYDNEY The luxury and contemporary Italian brand, Bvlgari has celebrated its 20th anniversary in Australia by opening a new flagship store in Castlereagh Street, in Sydney and commissioned the extremely skilled architect, Peter Marino to embody the sophisticated and bold essence of Bvlgari in its interiors. The new Castlereagh boutique makes a striking proposition for bold and beautiful Roman architectural design where innovation and tradition mesh perfectly. From marble and stone designs to classic fixtures and geometric details, the flagship store will take you on a mesmerising journey through the brand’s history.
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NEWS & TRENDS //
PIERO LISSONI DESIGNS NEW TIMELESS COLLECTION FOR KNOLL Knoll introduces the KN Collection designed by Piero Lissoni. The collection consists of a family of armchairs based on an absolute balance between modernity and tradition. It features a range of materials that set every creation apart, underlining the sophisticated spirit that looks to the future, while at the same time paying tribute to the great design of the past: accents to scatter freely in residential spaces, but also versatile solutions for high-performance workplaces and luxury interiors. Lissoni also designed the Red Baron bookcase, a versatile modular system that relies on the material impact of a structure in metal, glass and wood, with essential lines that make the product eclectic and customizable.
BRAND VAN EGMOND PRESENTS TWO NEW SCULPTURAL LIGHTING COLLECTIONS
GWYNETH PALTROW AND CB2 REVEAL CONTEMPORARY LUXURY DÉCOR COLLECTION
Ersa and Louise are the latest new handcrafted design collections by the renowned Netherlands-based company, Brand van Egmond. The former was named after the Greek goddess of dew and features striking lighting pieces presented in new finishes and materials that represent a fresh start and free-spirited renewal. The iridescence on the glass that the brand uses leads to a gradual change of colour as the angle of view or illumination changes, radiates a stunning glow. The latter is a true depiction of how simplicity can become the ultimate showing of sophistication. While it features a simple frame, this exciting collection is decorated in a pleasing rhythm thanks to glass lanterns. Its different colours and positions offer a joyful lighting effect.
CB2, a renowned home decor brand collaborated with goop, the luxury lifestyle brand created by the Academy award-winning actress, Gwyneth Paltrow. With pieces like a mid-century Curvo pink sofa, Parisian-inspired china, and plush meditation pillows, the collection pairs goop’s unique aesthetic with CB2’s skill for manufacturing eclectic and contemporary luxury pieces. Each piece is bound to make quite a statement in any type of interior space.
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CULTURE A N E W C R E AT I V E H U B
CULTURE is a new creative hub supported by Covet Foundation where artisans, plastic artists and designers keep alive the spirit of experimentation by challenging the traditional concepts of fine Craftsmanship to create one-of-a-kind pieces.
A new place for a permanent dialogue among Arts & Crafts and
CREATIVE ATELIER & WORKSHOP SERIES
Design dare to reinvent traditional concepts, bringing to life
A centre of excellence that brings together artisans, artists, and
unexpected and one-of-a-kind creations with a forward-thinking
designers for an unexpected link between Arts & Crafts and
aesthetic. The Creative Hub challenges different and the finest
Design. It aims to stimulate a lively exchange of multidisciplinary
Crafts in one single place, born driven to enhance the rich legacy
skills and creative concepts whilst allowing time for reflection
of Arts & Crafts, to design a new contemporary narrative into
and creation in inspiring working-galleries. All related tools and
innovative design pieces, and also provide the opportunity to
equipment are provided.
showcase pioneering handcrafted creations. A well-designed
The pioneering handcrafted creations will be displayed in some
programme that gives several breakthroughs to master artisans or
of the greatest events of craftsmanship like the Luxury Design
emerging artists.
Craftsmanship Summit 2019, in Paris.
NEWS & TRENDS //
This project is taking place in the new Covet Town, a Design & Craftsmanship city. An enormous project of Covet Group that is planned to welcome about 2500 people and promises to be a creative centre for design lovers. This new project combines different creative working spaces, from design studios and prototyping as well as production ateliers, museum, marketing players, and editorial teams. In one of these spaces of Covet Town, the artistic ateliers created 12 exquisites and one-of-a-kind stools. The pioneering handcrafted creations will be displayed in some of the greatest events of craftsmanship like the Luxury Design Craftsmanship Summit 2019, in Paris, France. The first challenge is to recreate a specific design stool called Erosion, originally designed by Boca do Lobo, with the specific crafts skills of every artisan in the artistic atelier. The final goal is the chance to stand out with pioneering handcrafted creations integrated into a curated Collection. One of the stools is now concluded and it was made with the ancient art of marquetry. The technique used refers to the process of applying thin slices of wood to the structure of the piece, to form the final decorative pattern.
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CRAFTSMANSHIP The exquisite Murano glass stool was another pioneering handcrafted creation that was developed. Murano glass or Venetian glass is made on the Venetian island of Murano, a glassmaking centre for over 700 years. During many years, Murano glassmakers created Cristallo - an almost transparent material that is considered the finest glass in the world. After this, a white-coloured glass (milk glass called Lattimo) was developed and takes the appearance of porcelain. The Murano glassmakers are considered the finest makers of mirrors in Europe. The Murano glass stool created in the artistic atelier of CULTURE has a delicate and distinctive shape with unique patterns. This is an unrivalled piece in the world of arts and crafts that offers an exclusive and immersive experience. The third reinterpretation of the Erosion stool was made by using the technique of painting. Depicted in this stool is the idea of translation. The handmade technique of painting was used to create exquisite flower patterns combining traditional with modern elements.
NEWS & TRENDS //
ARTS + CRAFTS + DESIGN The CULTURE Creative Hub is assembling its first steps towards a brighter future of the craftsmanship world and the pioneering handcrafted creations taking shape in the artistic atelier are only the beginning. More projects are still come and the foundation wants as many people to be involved as possible in this unique process of developing pieces with meaning and character.
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OURIVESARIA TAVARES
DISCOVER THE GOLDSMITHERY’S ETERNAL VALUE OF FUSING TRADITION WITH INNOVATION Established in 1922, Ourivesaria Tavares is one of the most presti-
according to Carlos Tavares, “luxury results from the value of
gious goldsmithery factories in Portugal, based in Póvoa do Varzim.
the materials used, especially, the valued added by the artisan. In
They are best known for creating jewellery and sacred art pieces
light of such, we have accepted - throughout almost 100 years -
that amalgamate an unrivalled level of tradition and innovation.
challenges proposed by our clients to develop unique pieces with exclusive and personalised details. Craftsmanship is, therefore,
In all of their creations, they focus on using only the best mate-
the assumption of luxury in all of our pieces”.
rials and techniques while always paying maximum attention to details. Their collections of jewellery are simply exceptional
Many of their pieces are inspired by the rich history of Portugal,
where GIA-certified diamonds and other precious stones take the
such as the “Baixela Portugália”, an hand-carved design where
spotlight. Ourivesaria Tavares’ commitment to the construction
each piece has the coat of arms of D. Carlos. Another prime ex-
of an innovative future has granted them a unique distinction
ample is “Siglas Poveiras” a unique silver collection where graph-
among the artistic community of the city back in 2016.
ics were applied to each piece in a representation of the fishing
Luxury and craftsmanship are two terms that have been always
families that would use these elements to highlight maritime
associated to the outstanding work of Ourivesaria Tavares and
and homemade objects.
NEWS & TRENDS // Furthermore, “As Arrecadas de Laúndos” is their most historic piece as it is a reproduction of items from the 2nd century BC. The original pieces were discovered at the beginning of the 20th century, in the parish of Laúndos and can now be found in the Soares dos Reis National Museum, in Porto. Ourivesaria Tavares’ master goldsmiths employed their knowledge of the techniques used at the time and reproduced them to perfection, and the final result was astonishing as many have difficulties realising which one is the original. When asked about what makes Ourivesaria Tavares’s pieces so unique, Carlos Tavares proudly answered, “We want each piece to have a value guarantee with a strong stamp of exclusivity and timelessness. In virtue of such, we opt for precious stones and enamels instead of other less noble materials. And, to these, we apply techniques and designs that are defined by the tradition of Portuguese goldsmithery.”
“With almost 100 years of existence, Ourivesaria Tavares represents a true legacy that deserves to be preserved. For this purpose, we want to continue to be a reference in the goldsmithing industry in Portugal, so we can share with the world our work and our history, showcasing the best of Portuguese goldsmithery. It is with unquestionable pride in our past that we look forward to, in our present, project and create the goldsmithery of the future.” – Carlos Tavares
As a whole, Ouriversaria Tavares seeks to explore new boundaries of design by re-interpreting traditions and adapting new approaches of the industry while never neglecting or disrespecting the value of materials with a more traditional character as well as ancestral techniques. They do such feat in the most peculiar and sustained way and that’s why their personalised methods are so appreciated among the community. Website: www.ourivesariatavares.pt/en/ Address: R. da Junqueira 54, 4490-519 Póvoa de Varzim
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 35.
Alda Tomás senior designer at Vista Alegre and Marco Costa, Boca do Lobo’s CEO
LIMITED EDITION ONCE UPON A TIME BY BOCA DO LOBO AND VISTA ALEGRE
When the finest craftsmanship and the best of contemporary design hold hands, breath-taking art pieces like Once Upon a Time are born. Brought to life from the merging of the iconic Pixel cabinet by Boca do Lobo and the delicate hand painted porcelain by the renowned brand Vista Alegre, the exquisite limitededition bar cabinet truly seems to come from a dream or a fairy-tale. It’s a collectible design limited to eight pieces that celebrate the beginning of Vista Alegre’s path in the furniture field. Each work of art can be customized with the future collector’s name.
Mary Mcdonald interior design
NEWS & TRENDS // Inspired by the oriental vibe, there’s nothing more authentic in Asian art than porcelain. Once Open a Time is a cabinet crafted with precious floral and colourful details, a garden full of Paeonia flowers, where two mythic Chinese birds live. These sacred birds, known as Chinese phoenixes, represent the masculine and the feminine side of a soul and are painted in shades of blue, pink, yellow and green. Inside, the cabinet is coated with blue suede and mirrors. The remarkable masterpiece is fully hand-painted and took 500 hours of hard work to complete, thanks to the most talented master artisans. Unlike most contemporary design whose only innovation is a modern twist on a dated idea, the Pixel Bar Cabinet does exactly the opposite. It uses a variety of traditional production techniques to craft an avant-garde furniture piece that’s elegant, joyful and a perfect match for the digital age. However, this time a new story has been written by master artisans who love new challenges and never cease to improve. That’s where Vista Alegre’s extremely detailed hand-painted porcelain comes in and certainly elevates the one-of-a-kind piece. Full of pride and joy, standing in front of this marvellous handcrafted artwork, Nuno Barra, Vista Alegre’s Marketing Director said: “[Today we begin our journey in the furniture field. Exclusive designs, limited pieces, but all of them incorporating hand-painted porcelain and/or crystal. This will always be a small niche inside Vista Alegre and a more exclusive one than usual, thanks to its limited editions. Boca do Lobo helped us give our first steps in the furniture world, that’s why we decided to choose one of its exclusive designs, the Pixel Cabinet, but give it a twist with Vista Alegre’s vision. Once Upon a Time is all hand-painted and took around 500 hours of hard work by the most talented master artisans]”. To Marco Costa, CEO and Creative Director of Boca do Lobo,: “[This collaboration grew naturally, since Boca do Lobo and Vista Alegre share the same mission – to elevate Portuguese design and create a long lasting and bright future for ancient craftsmanship techniques]”.
Rogério Timotteo, artist; Nuno Barra, Marketing director; Paulo Neves, artist.
Together, these two successful, creative and innovative Portuguese brands recreated history, conceiving the finest handcrafted functional art with an essential artistic value, filled with authenticity and legacy. Since 2005, Boca do Lobo specialized itself in exquisite, sophisticated furniture design where it makes ancient techniques, like filigree, shine. Master artisans, the makers, have a key role in the creation of the designs. Vista Alegre was founded in 1824 and is one of the most ancient porcelain productions in the Iberian Peninsula. It is based in Ílhavo but it is also an international reference – it even created a collection with Christian Lacroix. There is nothing more honourable than recognizing how precious the detailed, dedicated and precise work of the creative hands and minds is. It is thanks to the alliance of thinkers and makers that design and art miracles like this truly can happen. From Portugal to the world, these two brands celebrate the Portuguese design at the highest level. The first design piece is now exposed in the new Vista Alegre concept Flagship Store in Porto.
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 37.
A COVETING NEW EXPERIENCE
ARISES WHEN LUXURY AND GASTRONOMY CELEBRATE DESIGN TOGETHER Design, Jewellery and a Chef was an outstanding event organised by three of the most prestigious luxury references in Portugal: creative design company, Covet Group; prestigious goldsmithery factory, Tavares 1922; and award-winning restaurant, Salpoente. All of these entities had a powerful vision in mind: to introduce new standards of living in regards to how one can add luxury to their dining table in the most peculiar manner. In virtue of such, elements from three of the greatest art forms in the world, design, jewellery and gastronomy, seamlessly merged to offer innovative solutions that are gratifying to all senses, leading individuals on a glorifying journey where traditional flavours and luxury come together as one.
NEWS & TRENDS //
Duarte Eira Salpoente’s chef
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 39.
COVET NYC
THE HOTTEST NEW DESIGN DESTINATION IN NEW YORK CITY
Ricardo Magalhães
fter opening design showrooms in cosmopolitan cities
This new project acts as a global design proposal that has the
such as London and Paris, Covet House has now adven-
main purpose of inspiring an interested audience of industry
tured in yet again another thrilling space, offering a new luxury
professionals or clients, to completely surpass one’s expectations
design experience in the Big Apple with COVET NYC. CovetED
and fulfil their needs, and as Ricardo Magalhães discloses “the
has the incredible pleasure to converse with Ricardo Magalhães,
wow factor comes in to play, and above all, we want people to
one of the creative minds behind this project and co-founder of
live and breathe the space, so they can feel the textures and ma-
the multi-specialised Covet Group.
terials, and ultimately feel our essence … for us is also important that they challenge us, we want to listen to our clients, to be
Covet NYC, otherwise known as “The Mansion” was the result
closer with them, to learn more about their expectations … our
of an outstanding collaboration between Tessler Developments
projects have an open character, so we always want to do some-
and Covet House, in one of the most coveting addresses in New
thing different and better”.
York City, 172 Madison Avenue. According to Magalhães, this was a fundamental stating project that gave the group the op-
The showroom showcases the group’s irreverence and fierce at-
portunity “to be closer to the market, with the reality in terms
titude towards design where inspiration and creativity are key
of design and the space itself, and the needs of our clients, which
to the process. This unique platform provides designers and cre-
in this case, are mostly interior designers and architects. This al-
ators with the freedom of being inspired by astonishing spaces
lows us to have a more authentic vision regarding the market
and products and then they can eventually translate that beauty
and how we can select our products based on its identity but
into their own projects.
also taking into consideration functionality and aesthetics, and putting our own spin into the overall design, thus introducing added value.”
NEWS & TRENDS // Furthermore, Covet NYC highlights a curated selection of furniture, lighting, upholstery and accessories from 11 of the best European luxury brands, most of which are a complement to each other while also having their own set of characteristics and styles as well as a specific design language. In virtue of such, the group is able to convey its message, a luxury lifestyle, a unique aesthetic, and an unmatched sense of comfort where the values of each brand and the group itself are represented, while never neglecting the needs of a client. “Our main challenge was to understand our audience, to understand the client and the space, and then adapt and harmonise the exterior, the aesthetic value of the building’s architecture with the interiors,” states Ricardo Magalhães. One of the areas that best reflects this is the dining and living areas. This inspirational open space perfectly
“Interior designers and architects come to us, to see if we can also help them in their projects, they really come prepared to talk to us. I think that this recognition has been an immense source of pride. It means that we are on the right path, our message is getting across, and above all, we get to help others, we can contribute on the development of their projects, and it’s not only a matter of supplying products. It gives us a sense of credibility.”
connects the exterior with the interior, as Magalhães affirms “one of the aspects that I appreciate the most as an interior designer is that the space is an extension of the exterior and vice-versa. It is the division that best represents what our group is, a lounge space.” When asked about his greatest achievements as an interior designer, Magalhães further emphasis on this notion of developing projects where the lounge space is the protagonist. Over the past three years, they have mastered this concept, especially in trade shows and fairs as well as in design showrooms and the response by designers and visitors alike has been extremely positive.
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 41.
PUBLICIDADE A
L
D
E
C
O
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 43.
Pierre HermÊ and l’Occitane
Nowadays, self-expressive colours and non-traditional hues are becoming a favourite among designers and consumers alike. Whether you prefer brighter or bolder hues, colour is imperative in interiors as it adds vibrancy, character and style to one’s home decor. Now, CovetED has selected six colours that are bound to trend in the foreseeable future due to their shimmering and translucent qualities that are intrinsic to human development, as one simply cannot resist.
Dolce & Gabbana Spring/Summer 2019
INSPIRATION //
The New York Edition Designed By The Rockwell Group
Highlighting a darker shade of the Terracotta colour, Tawny Brown is also a combination of red, orange and brown. This peachy autumn hue offers a warm and sophisticated look to interiors.
Highlighting a darker shade of the Terracotta colour, Tawny Brown is also a combination of red, orange and brown. This peachy autumn hue offers a warm and sophisticated look to Cameron Design House interiors. pendant light
Dolce & Gabbana Spring/Summer 2019
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 45.
The Gallery at Sketch by India Mahdavi
Chair Clarissa Hood by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso
Masquespacio stool collection for Missana
Gucci coat and bag
Regarded as a natural evolution from Millennial pink, the soft and feminine appeal of Cloud Pink is indescribable. This light-toned pink connotes of sweetness and tenderness. When applied to interiors, it adds warmth and a more whimsical touch to one’s spaces.
Head Trip Sculpture by KellyWearstler
Le Flandrin Restaurant redesigned by Joseph Dirand
Valencia Cushion by Rug’society
Featuring golden undertones, honey yellow is an earthy shade that has the natural prowess of easily complementing other warm colours, such as brown, green and red as well as neutral tones.
Kaia Gerber at the Marc Jacobs show
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 47.
Blue Bar at the Berkeley by David Collins Channel dress
The Hotel Vernet by François Champsaur
Evoking an ethereal touch to one’s interiors, this unique shade of blue is a combination of taupe, rosy pinks and ivory hues. It is a nostalgic tone that is best used if contrasted with antique and vintage pieces as well as muted shades. Reminiscent of the blue sky, this delicate palette uplifts the decor with its connotations of calmness, escapism and romantic nature.
India Mahdavi furnishings at Ralph Pucci’s NYC showroom
Georgio Armani Women’s Green Pocket Coat
Compartés, Los Angeles chocolatier by Kelly Wearstler
This gender-neutral colour adds a sense of freshness and serenity. It is an oxygenating tone that is often associated with futuristic developments, especially in science and technology while also maintaining a deep seeded connection with nature. Numerous trend forecasters and experts have unveiled that this pastel shade of green is set to dominate in the industries of interior design and fashion.
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 49.
Cantaloupe is a soft undertone of bright orange, lighter shades of red and mellow yellow. Having a broad and fashionable appeal due to its melon-like appearance, this exceptionally versatile colour is a cross between earthy and pastel tones.
David Easton Interiors
Marc Jacobs
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 51.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH KAREN HOWES
fter being part of a completely stacked Davidson Studio, we sat with Karen on a contemporary dining table that set the mood perfectly for an interesting, compelling and a quite educational conversation. We started off by discussing her professional and, of course, the emotional path in design. Karen told us the Studio has been up and running for 25 years now, and that she even lectures interior design to a global scale, but these opportunities were quite rare
“I think that as a team we work onto what our core values are. And when we work on projects with clients that have the same values as we do, it’s a very smooth and interesting process.”
when she started. She started by selling properties in Westminster, London and her interior design path began with the purchase of one
For Karen, sharing these same values is an extremely important
flat, by the age of 19. With that flat, she learned it all. She learned
project-accepting criteria. In the designer’s opinion, the best projects
how to set a wallpaper, how to make curtains, how to decorate.
come to existence once you share an emotional connection with the
Adding this to the fact that she was living with Martin Waller, the
client when you can feel their will and just go with the flow.
founder and owner of the world-renowned furniture store Andrew
- So, you have some project-accepting criteria.
Martin, we can see how the love for interior design came to be. In Karen’s opinion, Taylor Howes is defined by its core and supportive values. Passion, honesty and kindness. That’s how one of the world’s greatest interior designers defines the studio. When they have the opportunity to work with clients who share the same values with them, the process becomes smooth, as if they’re on a design journey together.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW //
25 years have passed since the launch of Taylor Howes, and Karen now feels like a kind of curator and editor of the studio. Whenever she meets with the clients she already has a clear vision in her mind. Above all, Karen sees herself as open to new ideas, new concepts, new designs. She has 30 team members working non-stop in the studio, always seeking the best ideas, but Karen’s always the first client. Before the idea is presented to the client, it has to go through Karen, so that she, with all her experience, can guide the project to the way it was meant to be: a pristine Taylor Howes project.
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 53.
“I have 30 amazing, talented team members in the studio. They’ll bring me ideas as well, but I’ll say I’m the first client in the studio.” Trends come and go, but good design stays. It is not everlasting, as nothing is, but for Karen, a designer has to have the confidence to predict what the trends will look like. The uber-talented designer remarks that they can’t simply design with the current trends, thus they’ll be outdated when they finally reach the market. The solution? Planning and projecting three-four years ahead.
“I think when we’re designing, we’re designing three-four years ahead of what the market will have. We can’t do what everybody is seeing now because it will be out of date by the time it gets to the market.” When asked if there was any type of project that would impersonate Taylor Howes identity, the designer simply said no, there isn’t. In her mind, the studio can’t be characterised by a simple project type, as it is constantly evolving. As though some people go to different studios to get, in Karen’s opinion, ‘’prescribed looks’’, the ones who seek Taylor Howes’ services can expect nothing of such.
“I would say we don’t, because, for me, I’d say that our last project is our best project. We’re not static, as a studio.” In Karen’s perspective, a designer should at all times feel challenged. In her opinion, every day is different once you’re constantly challenged. For Karen, what drives her is the absolute passion for beautiful things, which doesn’t allow her to simply stand still. For her, the best projects are the ones when they get involved in the early stages, when they meticulously plan the space and the outcome. Whether it is a developer’s project or a private client, the most important (and her favourite) part of planning the project is the space planning. In her opinion, every project must have good bones to put everything together, otherwise, it’s almost like a cover-up job. “To be honest is space planning. Everything stems from that. If you got good bones, and good structure, then everything adds to that.” Lastly, for Karen, taking the same steps in every project is a colossal mistake. Every single one is different and that’s probably what challenges Karen the most. Karen exemplified it by telling us about a project at an old War Office in Whitehall, London, and every single room provided a different challenge. And they’re about 87 apartments.
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 55.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH TIM MUTTON
nique, luxurious and rather rebellious would be the adjectives we would use to describe Blacksheep’s work. Leading what it is one of the world’s most prominent interior design studios of the moment, Tim sat down with us for a rather unfiltered exclusive interview, in which we spoke a bit of everything. Recognising he was ‘’one of those kids in school that didn’t perform particularly well’’, Tim quickly found a job at the age of 17, working in a kitchen. Starting from loading the dishwasher and ending up
“It was the first time anyone said anything kind of remotely positive and I certainly realized I was in a different community, in a creative community. I finished the course in the second year, got a distinction, got the highest mark and it just really went from there.’’
behind the bar, he found something he loves: serving people. For
In a way, this was Tim, a true black sheep whose biggest satisfac-
the moment, it was everything he wanted to do. Even though Tim
tion was to prove someone wrong. We get it, nothing’s more satis-
was happy, his father wasn’t particularly pleased with his son’s cur-
fying than achieving something that someone said it was beyond
rent occupation. Hence, an ultimatum. His father, a former mili-
our reach. Tim characterises the studio with having the rebellious
tary man, said his son had three choices: going to college, getting
attitude that was imported from his own life. He did give an ex-
an apprenticeship or joining the army. Thinking about his future in
ample of when this attitude was indeed applied, a fashion brand
bartending, He got himself into art and design and he found his true
project for some clients famous to be, let’s say, complicated. ‘’Don’t
talent. A professor once even told him that he had the talent, he just
work for them, they’ll never pay you, your project won’t be a suc-
needed to focus. Those simple, yet marking words made Tim realize
cess and it won’t last anything more than three years’’ were some
that his future was indeed bright.
of the words Tim heard, but he did it anyway. The result? A huge success, he got paid and it lasted over six years.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW //
‘’Blacksheep is a bit like that. I guess most creative people have the sense of having to prove themselves constantly. Most artists are driven by that.’’ For Blacksheep, every project has to be different. For Tim, every project, either it is with a new or returning client, has to be a new book that tells a new tale. A design tale, per say. Tim never repeats himself. Like a true novelist, he doesn’t care for similarities, nor ‘’stylistically sad’’, as he perceives. In his mind, similarities are created to chase after success, thus it represents what one wants to become. But, according to Tim, one should embrace uniqueness. ‘’It’s ok to be different.’’ He concluded.
‘’I spent a lot of time (in his youth) trying to desperately fit in. And I think sometimes design is a bit like that. Sometimes you can try and create similarities because you see something that’s successful and if you get a bit of that, making you look like that, and maybe some of that success will come to you. I don’t want to do that.’’
As for Blacksheep’s identity, Tim has always regarded the studio as special in what it does. In his opinion, they’re always reinventing themselves. They spent time discussing where do they need to go as a studio and what kind of projects suits them best. From a Cinema Club in Kuwait to a Chocolate Wafer brand in Dubai, and even a Cooking library for Hyundai in Seoul. For Tim, the challenge is mandatory. Not falling into the paradigm of the normal, the dull, the already made. A constant reinvention is required ever and ever again. The creation of the new normal.
‘’I like that challenge. Learning how to be a leading brand and not a following up brand. Creating a new normal instead of doing the normal.’’
When we asked him about the process that the studio has for planning a project, Tim answered the easiest way possible: it’s the project that drives itself. It’s a rigorous process that allows the designer to give the client some assurances. Sometimes designers aren’t as clear with their end visions as they should be with their clients. He has a four-step process that he calls the four D’s: Delve, Dream, Draw and Deliver. For Tim, Delve is the most important one, as it makes sure that the designer’s vision gets understood.
“Sometimes designers are not very clear. I have this process, we call it the four ‘’D’s’’, which is Delve, Dream, Draw and Deliver. The most important one is the delve. The delve is making sure that the intelligence behind, the interior designer’s perspective gets understood.”
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 57.
GRAN HOTEL INGLÉS MADRID, SPAIN
The Gran Hotel Inglés has been a landmark since it was built in 1853. As the first hotel to have a restaurant, and located on the first street to receive electric lights in Madrid, the hotel quickly became a cultural icon. Politicians, artists, writers, and intellectuals made it their gathering place. After years of neglect and disrepair, the derelict hotel has been renovated and redesigned for today’s sophisticated traveller by Rockwell Group’s studio in Madrid. Eva Longoria, one of the team leaders behind the project, took the time to talk to us and answer some questions regarding the magnificent project.
Mary Mcdonald interior design
PROJECT //
‘’The Gran Hotel Inglés is the second oldest hotel in Madrid, it exists since the 1800’s, and the idea was to bring back all the glamour the hotel always had in that time” Eva Longoria, Studio Leader
Indeed, the Madrid Studio of Rockwell Group has brought back the glamour, elegance, and innovation of Gran Hotel Inglés, drawing inspiration from the hotel’s 165-year-old history. The design concept celebrates the hotel’s history as a gathering place for the avant-garde and intellectuals, weaving original imagery and salvaged historic items into the design of the public spaces, gym, spa, meeting rooms, and guestrooms. The hotel is located in the cultural and historical centre of Madrid, within walking distance to the Puerta del Sol and various monuments and tourist attractions.
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 59.
“In this hotel, you feel like you’re in a big home. And that’s the difference, it’s a very intimate luxury hotel.’’ The design team, headed up by Eva Longoria and Elisa Rodriguez, introduced elegance and sophistication to the lobby, celebrating its 20’ ceilings with circular chandeliers and inspired by a class English manor. Some of the hotel’s original chandeliers and columns were restored and featured. A central lobby bar is surrounded by a cocktail lounge with clusters of area rugs and a range of seating, creating a marvellous gathering spot for hotel guests and visitors. Website: www.granhotelingles.com/en/central-madrid-location/ Address: Calle Echegaray, 8, 28014 Madrid, Espanha
PROJECT //
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 61.
CHATEAU DE DRUDAS
HAUTE-GARONNE COUNTRYSIDE, FRANCE
The Castle of Drudas, listed as a historical monument, is a mag-
In the hall, a beautiful beige Hermès sofa from the Portuguese
nificent house from the 18th century that was recently restored
brand BRABBU completes the interior design with its modern
by the architect Pierre-Henri Bouchacourt and his team. Located
presence that truly embodies the Hotel’s atmosphere.
in the heart of the Haute-Garonne countryside, France, the his-
On the left of the Hall, we find a terrific restaurant - le Verdurier -
toric villa presented a great challenge for the interior design stu-
located on the ancient ballroom of the castle and managed by the
dio: to preserve the authentic style of the castle and to integrate
prestigious Michelin-starred chef Eric Sampietro.
a touch of modernity at the same time. The project was success-
A splendid chandelier and beautiful decorative wall lights bright-
fully completed respecting its heritage value. Château de Drudas
en the restaurant with a glamorous but romantic glow.
opens its doors for an exceptional stay, where luxury and comfort merge in a special atmosphere.
It is possible to have a relaxing moment and take a peaceful break
As we pass by the entrance, decorated in neutral pastel colours,
at one of the hotel’s Salons. The Salon du Potager is one of the
our eyes are caught by the original locks and mouldings from
most requested due to its serene and friendly ambience that sets
three centuries ago.
the visitor’s mind free while offering a comfortable stay. A rotisserie and a bread wood oven give a charming flair to this space.
PROJECT //
Hermes sofa by Brabbu
Salon RÊsseguier is another impressive space that features a more formal approach but still offers the same serenity and comfort. The tomettes on the floor are the original ones and a beautiful chandelier imposes itself on the middle of the room The hotel pleases the visitors’ eyes with large prestigious stairs that manifest an authentic renaissance experience while guiding them to the rooms. There are 23 bedrooms, including six duplex suites decorated in an unmistakeably 18th-century style with a few modern touches. They offer all the modern comforts and benefits from a high-quality renovation in line with the demanding criteria required for Historic Monuments. Hermes sofa by Brabbu
Website: www.ph2b.com
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 63.
PECHERSKY COMPLEX KIEV, UKRAINE
Brubeck pendat by DelightFULL
A young family knew all the key elements that they wanted for a good home life and the following custom high-end design was the final result. The PeacherSKY complex is authored by YøDezeen Architects, a 281-metre square home located in Kiev that is the epitBrubeck pendat by DelightFULL
ome of comfortable and luxury living. The prestigious architecture firm acquired two apartments and removed all the walls in order to convert it into one. Now, a lightfilled space, this modern residence features a comprehensive range of mid-century modern lighting designs and copper is one of the most predominant materials used throughout. The apartment has two distinctive areas, each with their specific purpose. By adhering to this strategy, YøDezeen Architects was able to design charming interiors and intensified a new way of living. The decor is further accentuated by a series of custom designs and a tasteful colour palette, and, as we mentioned previously, copper accents. Featuring an open floor plan, the house’s contemporary
Ike pendat by DelightFULL
look is completed by soft elements that merged majestically with luxurious details.
PROJECT // In a dramatic yet thoughtful open concept, the designers created a stunning living, dining and kitchen combined space. These entertainment areas feature exquisite materials, such as dark oak flooring and copper wall panels and an artistic use of gold, white and grey tones. In order to create the perfect contrast and adding a more sophisticated thrill, the architects introduce copper Lord of the Rings hovering above the dining table, a moss wall, a pendant LED lamp, modern fabrics and sophisticated furniture designs that exude an unmatched sense of timeless elegance and beauty. The master bathrooms are also colour-filled and besides the copper accents and generous wardrobes, they also feature outstanding mid-century modern lighting by DelightFULL: the Turner table lamp and the Brubeck pendant. In regards to the nursery, one of the most astonishing aspects of the decor is the white Moooi furniture that completely transforms the space. Functionality, comfort and luxury are the main trademarks of this intimate en-suite master bathroom set. It features the remarkable Scoop freestanding bathtub by Michael Schmidt, which was designed for Falper. As a whole, YøDezeen conceived an exquisite interior design journey for this family: a perfect combination of luxury and functionality, and spaces full of life and light. Website: yodezeen.com
Turner table lamp by DelightFULL
Turner table lamp by DelightFULL
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 65.
CH TEA ROOM KOBE KOBE, JAPAN
PROJECT //
One of the classiest and most vibrant luxury design destinations in Japan, where locals and tourists alike can have some time to relax and enjoy high-quality food, is the Ch Tea Room Kobe, a colourful space surrounded by mountains and sea. To top this amazing feeling, Ch Tea Room Kobe also has a terrace where you can feel like you are in the comfort of a real-life dollhouse. This highly comfortable establishment features a vivid combination of colours, including pastel tones of pink and green that are complemented by exclusive furniture designed by Essential Home. The walls of this venue feature a pastel pink tone that contrasts perfectly with the chic mint velvet armchairs as well as the hand-painted floral wallpaper that contains depictions of fauna and flora. Ch Tea Room Kobe receives a more feminine and seductive touch with the introduction of Essential Home’s Monroe Armchair inspired by the iconic actress, Marilyn Monroe. This chic mid-century modern piece can be seen in both millennial pink and mint green tones. In addition, Essential Home also provided the remarkable Florence Florence stool by Essential Home
stool. A mid-century modern design full of personality and timeless elegance that makes quite the statement in the tea room. It features a somewhat cylindrical shape, a cushioned green seat in velvet fabric as and a base in polished brass. “The show started at Ch Tea Room Kobe and there was one person on the stage with all the lights on her. A blond woman in a pink dress and an unforgettable smile. It’s hard to explain but even if you tried you couldn’t turn your eyes away from her. For some people, it was just another show but for others was an inspiration, that would make you lose the track of time and experience something way different than the other times.” - Essential Home As a whole, this venue takes the shape of a dollhouse whose decor is further enhanced by flower mint green and millennial pink upholstered chairs and geometric stools. It truly does sound like a dreamy experience. Website: www.essentialhome.eu
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 67.
SU HOUSE
STUGGART, GERMANY
Alexander Brenner Architects were the masterminds behind the design of a majestic villa located in the south of Stuggart, in Germany. The astonishing SU House was decorated to the very last detail taking into consideration the owner’s devote passion to art. Featuring a cubic style, the house presents a simple decor yet full of sophisticated and luxurious accents as well as an extraordinary combination of shapes and forms. As soon as you enter the site, you are marvelled by the exceptional landscape design. A massive silvery garage structure leads the way to the hidden beauties of the house, from a welcomingly alluring covered terrace area to a sensuous garden in a rounded and nature-oriented form. The pebble stone flooring is out of this world and merges perfectly between the exterior and interior areas, not to mention the pool terrace that can be accessed through a stunning three-dimensional modelled walkway. A roof terrace provides optimised views of the city. Going inside, the entrance hall presents a lengthy sculptural door and right ahead a massive dining table is lit by an enormous skylight. Floor-to-ceiling glazing allows the family to have spectacular views to the outside. Throughout the dining area, a series of rare and unique works of art can be found.
PROJECT //
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 69.
The group of architects created a functional and elegant kitchen
Another outstanding skylight and a Catellani & Smith pendant
that can either be an opened or closed space, courtesy of a wide slid-
lamp give a lustrous glow to the architecturally styled stairwell.
ing door. The decor of the living area is further enhanced by a broad
The master bedroom, dressing room and bathroom set were
fireplace and a full-width skylight that beautifully illuminates the
designed to be interconnected. The bedroom is comprised of a
surrounding sculptures and paintings.
fireplace, a home theatre system, a custom-made bed with silky linens, among countless other sophisticated details. In the master bathroom, warm colours reign with the assistance of oak and bronze elements as well as natural stone Tauerngruen surfaces and inlaid floors.
PROJECT //
Moreover, the house is also well-appointed with a spa and sauna area
In conclusion, this exclusive mansion has a unique aesthetic val-
where warm red and gold tones give it an introverted and whimsical
ue due to its three-dimensional and artistic character. Alexander
touch. This area also features a swimming pool whose floor is made
Brenner ensured that the client’s needs and desires would be carried
of iridescent glass mosaic. Yet again, the architects opted for floor-to-
out, creating a complete residential masterpiece - that thoroughly
ceiling glazing in order to provide mesmerising views to the garden,
reflects modern architecture and art - in one of the most beautiful
thus improving significantly the home experience.
locations in Germany. Website: www.alexanderbrenner.de
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 71.
WHAT COLOURS ARE NEXT?
PANTONEVIEW home + interiors 2019 Pantone is the authoritative colour reference for the ones that work in creative areas like design, interiors or fashion and recently they have launched an exciting new book regarding the colour trends for the upcoming year, the PANTONEVIEW Home 2019. This incredible and helpful book focuses on the colours that will paint our life and work next year! These are the colours that will influence consumers by the time they make their purchase decision and will appeal to one’s imagination and emotions. In PANTONEVIEW home + interiors 2019, you will find visual inspirations, key colour direction and suggested colour harmonies distilled into eight themes with 72 forecasted colours, taking the shape of a true colour road map to the future. Each annual issue provides targeted colour direction for home furnishings and interior design.
BOOKS WE COVET //
This time around it comes in a new format, including a cover slipcase, nine individually bound eight-page palette cards. The book’s forecast can actually be paired with Pantone Cotton or Plastic Standards in an incredible effort to create both soft and hard home applications. Among these colour palettes, you will find spicy reds, sweet flamingo oranges and rich purples. The neutrals have a warm presence and don’t forget to check the grassy greens. These elegant and fashionable tones will help you create irresistible design pieces and spaces that definitely will trigger the consumer’s attention. These are bound to become the hues that your mind craves and demands the most!
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SPECTRUM
Heritage Patterns and Colours Spectrum: Heritage Patterns and Colours is an awe-inspiring book written by freelance journalist and author, Ros Byam Shaw. Shaw writes about design and interiors for The World of Interiors and House & Garden. She has also authored the Farrow & Ball Living with Colour and Farrow & Ball Decorating with Colour books as well as numerous other books on historic houses and interiors. In Spectrum: Heritage Patterns and Colours, Ros Byam Shaw analyses each colour palette, from the fifteenth century onward. The interior design specialist has explored and analysed each wallpaper and fabric carefully selected by Here Design from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection, a museum founded in 1852 in London to support and encourage excellence in art and design.
BOOKS WE COVET //
Arranged chronologically, this remarkable book will feature double-page spread and extended captions that explain the significance of each palette. While flipping through the book, you will discover a helpful colour grid beside each pattern, in which the colours in the original piece are shown in proportion to their use, and with their CMYK references to enable designers to replicate these colours into their own work. Whether you are a specialist in interiors, product design or graph-
Lastly, the right mix of browns, greens, and oranges can easily
ics, Spectrum: Heritage Patterns and Colours will give you great
make one travel to the 1970s. This is something that interior dec-
insight regarding colours that will be quite useful for the develop-
orators have long mastered because specific colours and palettes
ment of your work. As a whole, the general audience will be quite
have the power to evoke strong moods, making a space or piece
pleased with this book especially due to how beautifully designed
even more special.
and illustrated it is. It is bound to provide inspiration to those that are invested in the fine arts of interior design.
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ARCHITECTURE EUROPACITY PARIS
EuropaCity is a business and tourism district worth £2.74 billion. This exceptional development is a master plan organised by the renowned Danish architecture practice, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and is scheduled to open in 2024, right in time for the Olympic Games. Located on the outskirts of Paris, Europacity will be comprised of eight astonishing buildings plus an exhibition hall. Numerous architecture firms battle it out in a relentless and creative contest where the winners become responsible for the design of each building. The main theme for the EuropaCity project will be “Rolling concept” which according to BIG, “will offer on an unprecedented scale a mix of retail, culture and leisure around a defining theme: Europe, its diversity, its urban experiences and its cultures.” In addition, the leading architecture group will be designing the exhibition hall that forms a pedestrian gateway to the development.
Cultural Centre by UNStudio The proficient Dutch architectural practice, UNStudio will be in charge of building this remarkable centre, dedicated to the 7th art of the world, which will highlight three intertwined volumes of weathering steel. It will be comprised of a cinema and a “cultural laboratory” with both indoor and outdoor screens.
Concert hall by Hérault Arnod Architectes
Contemporary Circus by Clément Blanchet Architecture
The 7,000-seat concert hall will be comprised of a series of horizontal and incline levels. Its roof is supported by slim white columns and atop it, circular canopies will house yet another space. The Hérault Arnod Architectes will conceive this unique project.
Clément Blanchet Architecture will be developing this contemporary scenery. This space will be opened at ground level and will be connected with a plaza and a platform level that can seat almost 1,500 people.
ARCHITECTURE //
Five-star hotel by Atelier COS For the five-star hotel, Atelier COS, a specialised Parisian architecture firm, was selected to design the hospitality venue having the agricultural history of the region in consideration. According to the architects, this hospitality venue will feature “fireflies, rooftop fields and a bamboo-covered atrium”.
Four-star hotel and convention centre by AAVP Architecture The Paris-based entity AAVP Architecture will oversee the design of this hotel and convention centre. On the one hand, the conference space will be encircled by a ring of slim vertical louvres that the architects describe as “exoskeleton of a sleeping mythical animal”. On the other hand, the 500-room hotel will feature a series of houselike gabled roofs.
Four-star hotel and children’s cultural centre by Franklin Azzi Architecture Franklin Azzi Architecture has imagined the 400-room hotel and cultural centre for children. The Parisian firm has thought of a glazed facade that overlooks a plaza and a park. At the same time, the upper levels of the building will be covered in greenery and shaped like mountain peaks.
Three-star hotel by Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia The multi-story building will be designed by Italian architecture firm, Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia. The 3* star hotel will have a glazed facade under a humpback roof.
Water park hotel by Chabanne Architecte Having a water park within its property, this exceptional hotel will be designed by Chabanne Architecte, a proficient firm based in Paris and Lyon. The project will have towers that “rise like eroded canyon walls” above a cluster of pools, water slides and waterfalls, in an incredible effort to follow the “rolling hills” concept of Bjarke Ingles Group’s master plan.
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PANTONE O
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HOW DID THE WORLD AUTHORITY OF COLOUR BECOME A POP CULTURE ICON? Well, Pantone is widely recognised in the design world as the colour authority. They look to art, consumer products cars, technology, interior design, celebrities, and fashion to determine colour trends past and present. Since 2000, the experienced colour gurus at the Pantone Color Institute designate the “colour of the year” that sets the tone for the design industry. Their designation is the colour that they expect to be seen everywhere in the year to come. Twice a year the company hosts, in a European capital, a secret meeting of representatives from various nations’ colour standards groups. After two days of presentations and debate, they choose a colour for the following year; for example, in 2012, Pantone named Tangerine Tango the colour of the year, describing its choice as a spirited reddish orange which will provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward. This description speaks to a tumultuous economic time culturally, and the vibrancy we associate with orange psychologically. The results of the meeting are published in the PANTONE Fashion Colour Trend Report, and it is your easily accessible guide to the season’s most important colour trends.
FASHION //
Princess Diana
Iris Apfel
THE STORY OF FASHION IS THE STORY OF COLOUR. There is often a story, a painting, an artist, a mood and inspiration for why we pick the colours or use them in certain combinations. More than any other single factor, colours give a garment (and the person who wears it) an impact both visually and emotionally. A woman walking in a red dress tells a very different story than the same woman in pink.
YOUR DRESSING DECISIONS DON’T ONLY INFLUENCE WHAT OTHERS THINK OF YOU, BUT THEY INFLUENCE WHAT YOU THINK OF YOURSELF. At the same time, attitudes towards colour change all the time. Yellow may be a bold one season and tiring the next. However, fashion brands spend hours forecasting these changes so they can adapt and even outpace fickle colour trends. The result is that fashion leader’s end up setting colour trends.
FASHION DESIGNERS EMBRACE A SIMPLE TRUTH WHEN IT COMES TO CONSUMERS AND COLOUR: Seasons change. A lot. In order to keep up with fast-paced seasonal colour expectations, many brands added two new seasons “Resort” and “Pre-Fall” to its spring/summer and fall/winter calendar. This allows designers to experiment with colours and trends, extending popular looks into shoulder seasons that bleed from three-month runs to six-month shelf lives. Considering that researchers have studied people’s reactions to colour for decades and that the only real conclusion they’ve agreed on is that one size never fits all, the addition of new seasons makes sense. The fashion industry has changed the calendar itself to satisfy as many customers as possible for as long as possible. Colour is one of the most important design elements, if not the most important. Research from the Institute for Color Research reveals that people make a subconscious judgment about an environment or product within 90 seconds of initial viewing, and between 62% and 90% of that assessment is based on colour alone. Whether intentional or not, colours give meaning to design. They spur emotions and express values. There are a few things to keep in mind when developing a colour strategy: psychology, culture, trends, and above all – context.
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S I GNATU RE C O LO U RS A N D THE S TY LE I C O N S W H O LOV E D T H E M
Frank Sinatra: Happy orange. What else?
Diana Vreeland: Woman in red.
Sinatra endures as one of the most influential vocalists of all
The influential fashion editor, who ruled the industry for
time, but he’s also remembered as a style icon.
five decades, was a passionate, extroverted risk-taker. She
He is remembered for many colourful things: his golden voice,
launched Twiggy’s career, sparked countless trends and rec-
his blue eyes and his black moods. But the actual hue he con-
ognised the offbeat beauty in unconventional style icons.
sidered his personal favourite colour was bright sunny orange.
“Red is the great clarifier- bright, cleansing, revealing. It makes
“Orange is the happiest colour,” he once said, and he splashed
all colors beautiful,” said Vreeland in the recent documenta-
it everywhere. He favoured orange shirts, scarves and even
ry Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel. “I can’t imagine
bathing trunks.
being bored with it - it would be like becoming tired of the person you love.” Vreeland was known for her omnipresent red lips and nails and dramatic crimson outfits. But she was also known for her vibrant red living room, one of the most recognizable and iconic rooms in design history.
Mamie Eisenhower: First lady Pink She was a popular first lady from 1953 to 1961, Pink was Mamie’s favourite colour and America quickly picked up on her palette. Picture the 1950s … pink Cadillacs … pink poodle skirts … and those ubiquitous pink ceramic-tiled bathrooms. MAMIE PINK; The iconic decorating colour of the 50s, arguably. Ubiquitous in fashion as well as bathrooms and kitchens. The mid-century trend to pink seems to have come directly and irrefutably from Mamie Eisenhower. Pink was also her preferred hue for entertaining and decorating. Her own bathroom was pink down to the cotton balls, and after she and her husband moved into the White House, she redecorated the private quarters in her favourite colour; reporters at the time christened it the “Pink Palace.”
STYLE ICONS //
CO L O U RS O F E MO TIO N
We live in a colourful world, take
Colour is emotional, it can make a person light up a room or feel
time to contemplate what colours
can be the difference between if we love or hate something. It
cosy at home. Colour is how (most of us) see the world and it
resonate with you, make you happy,
expresses emotion and personality.
calm your nerves and energize you.
effects of colour are universal. Warm colours like red, orange and
Take advantage of the benefits that a colourful life has to offer.
Perceptions of colour can be subjective, but some psychological yellow evoke emotions ranging from feelings of warmth and comfort to feelings of anger and hostility. Cool colours like blue, purple and green are often described as calm, but can also call to mind feelings of sadness or indifference. Red is the only colour that will cause a measurable physiological reaction in your body – increasing your heart rate and blood pressure. Pink is actually thought to be the most calming of all colours. Interestingly, dangerous criminals are sometimes housed in pink cells as studies show certain hues of pink can calm aggression. But psychological aspects of colour are often generalized or oversimplified. Some will say green represents nature, red should represent love, and blue is calming. These generalizations don’t always hold true when given context. Green can mean sick, red can represent danger and blue might symbolize depression in some contexts. CO L O U R & CU L TU RE Colour is not completely agreed on universally and can appeal differently to individual countries. There are many aspects to colour, especially from a cultural standpoint that should be considered. Colours represent national or political groups, are often associated with religion, sports teams, schools or other prominent organisations. They can also be associated with holidays. It’s important to keep in mind the cultural context your colour palette will be viewed in. For example: In western cultures black is a colour of mourning, In Japan, however, it is a colour of honour, with white being the colour of mourning, Red in the west represents danger, love and passion. In India it is the colour of purity, in China, it is a colour of good luck and in South Africa, it is a colour of mourning. Yellow represents courage in Japan, mourning in Egypt and hope in the West. C olour is a p owe r w hich dire ctly infl u en ces t he soul .
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TRENDBOOK TREND BOOK FORECASTS FUTURE TRENDS FOR THE HOME AND INTERIORS. This tool explains how trends grow, evolve and flow; helping perceive and understand how they will interact with our daily life. All the biggest Fashion Weeks have officially wrapped up and next season’s trends are very clear. From feathers and lace to bolder looks composed of animal prints and tie-dye colours, 2019’s fashion is going to keep the 90’s alive and bring us a sense of nostalgia. Any attentive eye can tell you the major influence that fashion has in home interiors. Normally it takes six-months to a year until you see interiors take a cue from fashion. The trends then start to blur between what we wear – fabrics, colours and patterns – and our home interior choices. Here are the top trends from the runways of New York, London, Milan and Paris from the Spring 2019 collections and our forecast of their impact in our home decor.
Hans-Agne Jakobsson ceiling lamp model
Birds of a eather By Rochas
Lounge Chair by Eames
Couture pouf collection by Lorenza Bozzoli Down to earth by MaxMara
01 - FEATHERS & FRINGES As fashion returns to maximalism, the trend of excess, some of the biggest designers like Prada have prompted the revival of feathers and fringes last year. Now it looks as though the trend for precious plumage is here to stay with a host of designers fluttering this look across their Spring/Summer 2019 collections. In furniture design mass consumers have already taken this trend by heart. Fringes saw a nearly 300% spike in searches on Pinterest this year and it’s set to maintain its presence next year.
02 - EARTH TONES More neutrally minded? Earth tones are back in a big way—from sand to tan, cream, and khaki. Although beige and white remain key neutrals, warmer tones such as taupe and light brown are on the rise. In our homes, a transition to a more conscious living is also reflected in the extensive use blush colour palettes and richer colours, such as terracotta, deeper blues and warmer greens.
INSPIRATIONS //
03 - EVERYTHING YELLOW Anyone following the Spring 2019 runways could easily spot what the main colour is going to be for next season: yellow. Throughout the shows, different shades of yellow kept coming up. Pantone decreed a marigold called Aspen Gold as the yellow for the season, but there are plenty of different shades to choose from, from paler or darker to more limey and golden. As the trend for the use of statement sofas in living rooms increases, yellow is becoming a big candidate as the main colour to use when we need to add of a pop of colour in our homes.
Dimore Studio For Bitossi Ceramiche
Golden child by Balenciaga
04 - LEOPARD PRINT Leopard print or more broadly animal print is making a big comeKelly Wearstler Rochas Pre Spring 2019
back in next year’s fashion trends. Snakeskin, leopard and tiger have been the absolute trend among the street style set this fashion month. In interior design, this trend will be used as a complement in textiles, cushions and area rugs. The controversial print has essentially been embraced as 2019’s equivalent to a neutral.
05 - CHALKED TONES The nostalgia-fest continues with colourfully stained clothes. Designers employed the beloved hippie print for Spring 2019, proving that the spinning, psychedelic colours are returning. Deliberately pale and almost imperceptibly coloured, chalked tones cross a wide range of hues and take the trend for matte and dry finishes to a new extreme. In our homes, this look is incorporated in the “Tactility trend” that is translated into the use of textured materials to transmit a craved sensory experience. It’s all about creating a surface look that makes you want to slide your fingertips all over the surface. Deliberately pale and almost imperceptibly coloured, chalked tones cross a wide range of hues and take the trend for matte and dry finishes to a new extreme. They also represent a material design rooted in ecology, where colourants are natural in source or minimal Blue and White Grunge Paint Watercolour Wallpaper Collina Strada
in intensity to reduce the quantity of dye used.
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Design Gallerist Rare & Unique Products
ALCHEMY OF COLOUR Much-anticipated design gallery featuring a highly curated online exhibit of contemporary design, renowned designers, and emergent cutting-edge newcomers. As a frontier between design & art, Design Gallerist uncovers new developments in contemporary design, broadcasts International design shows, gives you interviews with design icons, previews gallery showings and guides you through the most important breakthroughs in contemporary design.
WWW.DESIGNGALLERIST.COM
DESIGN GALLERIST //
LIGHTOLIGHT & LIGHTOREAD FOR PARACHILNA BY JAIME HAYON Lightolight is a colourful family of wall and floor lamps with a cup facing up and rotating dome, creating indirect light. Website: www. hayonstudio.com
CONGO CHAIR “L’AFRIQUE” BY STUDIO JOB & THEO RUTH LIMITED COLLECTORS EDITION OF 6 CHAIRS. Dutch designer Theo Ruth (Netherlands 1915-1971) made an icon of the fifties when he designed the “Congo Chair” for Artifort in 1952. The chair is the designers’ interpretation of traditional African seating. The chair comprises two separate elements that cleverly fit together. Gravity does the rest.wThe upholstery is “l’Afrique” by Studio Job. l’Afrique emerged from the collaboration between Studio Job and Land Rover (2012-13). The designers were asked to design and produce a unique, sculptural Land Rover Defender on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the iconic vehicle. The Defender is strongly rooted in Africa. The designers, therefore, asked manufacturer Vlisco – a specialist for more than 100 years in the production and distribution of speciality fabrics for the African continent – to print a single batch designed by Studio Job for the interior upholstery of the Land Rover. Website: www.studiojob.be/
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PIANI BY PATRICIA URQUIOLA A collection of small furniture where cane is interpreted in an innovative way. A special iridescent lacquering adds unique versatility and contemporaneity to each piece. Piani comprises a side table, a console and a bookshelf. Website: www.patriciaurquiola.com/
BRIGHT ABSTRACT TRAY COLLECTION BY DAWN SWEITZER OF NOTRE MONDE VIVID EXTRAVAGANCE A free-spirited vision, inspired by Dawn’s abstract paintings, is united with a dazzling and expressive color palette. The outcome is a union of unexpected pops of saturated hues, surprising textures, and luxurious details, on a handcrafted canvas. Be bold and dare to mix and match, to create a one-of-a-kind touch of bohemian luxury. Website: www.notremonde.com
DESIGN GALLERIST //
Milan polychromehermès shakes up the shades at the Museo della Permanente.
HERMÈS SHOWS ITS COLOURS The 2018 chromatic palette punctuates interior decor, backs up powerful drawings, and resonates in materials. Glossy and bright on lacquer, porcelain and textiles, colour is more matt and denser on leather and wood. Rigorous creativity and joyful meticulousness. To shed light on this chromatic quirk, Charlotte Macaux Perelman and Alexis Fabry, the two artistic directors of this universe, explained that “colour draws attention to another scale of objects”. The game of tangram inspired three lacquered Tangram boxes, designed by Gianpaolo Pagni the boxes are handpainted and the colours were applied with sponges Tangram box, small model. Website: www.hermes.com
A WALK IN THE GARDEN BUCOLIC TRIP This lush and graphic garden exudes the sweet smell of sunny siestas. Website: www.hermes.com
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AUDREY RUG BY ESSENTIAL HOME Audrey is a contemporary low pile rug that features a mesmerising pattern of coloured triangles. It uses a synthetic fibre called Tencel and it is produced using a cut and loop technique. The bright vivid colours mix with the abstract geometric pattern produce an amazingly rich indoor rug. Website: www.essentialhome.eu
GARBO DINING CHAIR BY ESSENTIAL HOME The timeless modern dining chair, Garbo was inspired by one of the biggest and most mysterious names on the Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame. With a unique design, heavily influenced by the classic lines of mid-century modern design, Garbo dining chair features a velvet upholstered seat with a removable cushion, completed by a crescent low back that is handmade in brass, finished in plated copper. The support of the upholstered dining chair is composed of four solid walnut wood legs that sit atop copper plated feet, for a more elegant look. Garbo is the perfect dining chair for a mid-century dining set, and it can also be used in hospitality interiors, due to the fire retardant properties of the fabrics used by Essential Home’s craftsmen. Website: www.essentialhome.eu
SOLEIL GREEN WOW COLLECTION BY HOME’S SOCIETY PARTNERSHIP WITH BOCA DO LOBO Soleil chair is a synthesis of styles and senses. Inspired by the spirit and mission of the famous Cirque du Soleil, the purpose is to invoke, provoke and evoke. Website: www.rugsociety.eu
DESIGN GALLERIST //
BLOOM CHAIR BY KOKET Wrap yourself in a soft flower petal and revel in the fluidity of graceful lines gently curving around your body. A fresh new take on femininity, the Bloom chair was inspired by the tenderness of the prettiest Calla Lily floret and designed by KOKET’s first class of summer interns in 2018. Website: www.bykoket.com
SNAKE 8 RUG’SOCIETY With a bold graphic design and a creation without limits, Rug’Society has developed a very coherent collection. This can be seen through noble materials, graphics and patterns different and unusual. Snake is a 100% handmade product that transforms the comfort and beauty of your project. Website: www.rugsociety.eu
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BEHIND THE SCENES OF A LUXURY HOTEL
Who is curious to learn how a luxury hotel works behind the scenes? CovetED Magazine spent a whole week at one of The Leading Hotels of the World®, Vila Vita Parc, in the beautiful shores of Algarve.
ARIANA RODRIGUES HEAD OF RECEPTION As soon as you walk in the marvellous Vila Vita Parc resort, you are immediately welcomed by an attentive staff, who are extremely proud of working in such a fine hospitality design that seeks to provide the best experience possible to its guests, making them feel
“My parents work both in Hospitality and therefore I have always been in hotels as a child. I was always curious about a career in the hotel industry. And when the opportunity arose to work in Vila Vita I did not even blink twice. I love the contact with the guests and the reception, from the perspective of the guests, is where everything starts and where everything ends,”
right at home. CovetED had the immense pleasure of speaking to the head of the reception team, Ariana who told us a little bit more
this is the sort of enthusiasm that Ariana demonstrates when she’s
of how it feels to enter Vila Vita experience as well as her own
working putting her expertise and passion for communication and
personal story when it comes to developing such an important industry
hotel business in good use.
in our world.
The team of reception at Vila Vita Parc is comprised of 26 individuals. The communicative journey with each guest starts right with the
Ariana has since a young age been quite curious about the hospitality
doorman and the baggage handlers, who truly have one of the most
industry, on the grounds that both of her parents worked in this
important roles in the development of the resort. Ariana mentions
business, which certainly awakened her desire to be a part of this
yet another curious fact about the resort,
industry. She graduated in communication back to Lisbon and then decided to go on an adventure to Germany where she perfected her knowledge and abilities, both professionally and linguistically speaking. After she concluded her studies, Ariana returned to Portugal where she commenced working in a private hospital, in the Algarve. Shortly after, a grand opportunity emerged,
“Vila Vita also has its own transfers between the Airport and the Hotel and the transfers drivers are also part of our team, which is quite a distinctive novelty in regards to other hotels.” The head of reception also talks about the necessity of creating a united and familial environment, whether if it’s among colleagues or guests. She adds that
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“In Vila Vita, we have a high rate of returning guests and when guests become more regular, we start to uphold a closer sense of proximity. It is like they are coming back home.” Vila Vita Parc presents a remarkable standard of professionalism, friendliness and luxury, always with guests in mind in order to provide the utmost exclusive stay,
“Every single day we prepare for the next one. There is always a list of arriving guests, some are regulars while others are visiting for the first time. Consequently, we try our best to accommodate every guest’s request and every detail in regards to their visit. A well- prepared welcoming is the key to success.” In regards to the biggest challenges she has to face in her profession, Ariana enlightened us that the majority of them are actually rooted in the organisation of various teams, that, in actuality, are responsible for completely diverging assignments, as she continues,
“I also have to deal with the daily challenges brought by the guests, which of course always require a lot and we have to correspond with a service of excellence.” The Hotel industry has come to significantly evolve due to technological improvements. While this component holds a momentous value in Vila Vita, it is not exclusive, giving prestige to an emotion that is exceptionally characteristic of the Portuguese, as Ariana discloses.
“We take full advantage of technology, but there are certain parameters that we maintain at the traditional level, meaning, with a more human-related contact, because in doing so we are humanizing the experience and we are treating the person with a different approach.”
HOTELS WE COVET //
JORGE CANAS PERSONAL ASSISTANT Vila Vita Parc is perhaps best known for its illustrious selection of unique villas that are authentic masterpieces. They offer all the expected privacy and more as well as being equipped with the most ostentatious and well-appointed facilities and personal services. A stay in one of their villas is faciliWtated by the work of personal assistants who do everything within their means to ensure one’s needs and desires are completely fulfilled. CovetED had the opportunity to speak with Jorge, one of the main assistants, who told us a lot about the extraordinary and attentive processes that go behind this service. Although Jorge has only held this position for a short period, he is already one of the most distinguished members of Vila Vita, mostly due to its positive attitude and energy, motivation and his impressive ability to separate personal from professional. Comprised of six assistants, this team is relatively young. However, sometimes this causes a bit of curiosity among guests, which immediately evaporates when they see the knowledge and expertise of each member. Jorge enlightened us a bit more about the process of preparation for receiving a guest, explaining that it is about studying their profile,
“Their possible allergies and intolerances, their preferences, we pay attention to everything ... upon their arrival, we immediately try to interpret the guest. Sometimes the guest is tired and wants to go straight to his villa ... so we try to understand as quickly as possible by talking to the guest. We show that we are there to satisfy all of their needs.”
When asked about possible challenges or characteristics of his profession, Jorge responded with extreme enthusiasm by saying, “I think this is the ideal job for me, because, as I said, I really enjoy talking to people. I like to have access to everything, and it is an advantage of our profession, the power to transmit and sell everything to the guest,” he adds, “Our guests are our best teachers. They travel all over the world. They have access to the best wines, to the best products, and when we converse with them, we are acquiring different knowledge. But I always try to be up to date with wine and gastronomy.” All the services available at Vila Vita Parc are interconnected, the resort shows an unequalled union and an efficient exchange of information between teams, that really makes it possible to offer an unforgettable hospitality experience, as Jorge asserts,
“We always have all the teams together in the transition of shifts. Imagine that a client, let’s say from a normal room or a villa, tells a staff member that the guest does not like nuts, it’s not a question of allergies, but they simply do not like nuts. That person has to pass on this information to their boss and he then forwards the email to all departments and teams of the hotel,” it is this type of attention to detail, taste for quality and ambition to satisfy the guests’ needs that makes Vila Vita Parc one of the most prestigious luxury resorts in Portugal and the world.
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JOÃO FONSECA HOUSE KEEPING SUPERVISION The Five-star hotel, Vila Vita Parc offers a series of accommodations that will take you on the ultimate adventure of luxury and leisure, including elegant and sea-inspired rooms and suites with fabulous ocean-view terraces. The resort reveals a clean and stunning ambience that is further enhanced by the supervisor of housekeeping, João Fonseca and his team. CovetED had the delight to talk with Fonseca about the impeccable service that they offer to every guest. When classifying this type of services Vila Vita Parc is not keen on exclusively using words like cleaning and maintenance, because, according to Fonseca, they end up “restricting the concept that everything we have to offer,” and instead, the resort adopts the name Housekeeping as a way to “include the tidiness of the room and the entire experience it involves.” João Fonseca graduated in relational marketing, having a master degree specialised in experiential marketing, that has opened up a world of experiences and services of excellence to him. Furthermore, Fonseca explains thoroughly the dichotomy between concepts like cleanliness and housekeeping,
“I am a staunch supporter of Housekeeping and I fight to counteract the idea that Housekeeping is a Cleaning Service. It is not. I thought this way too until I realised that it was not just cleaning when I decided to go into this career. In the beginning, I made several study visits to 5-Star Hotels in Lisbon and those responsible for these hotels always reinforced the importance of housekeeping and the experience of the room. That’s when I understood the importance of housekeeping and decided to pursue this career.” The housekeeping service of Vila Vita Parc is transversal to all other rendered services. For instance, Fonseca mentions Vila Trevo as one of the best domains of the hotel in regards to specialised services. This luxury property allows guests to have the whole experience of the hotel within this villa, that includes extremely well-appointed entertainment areas, such as a swimming pool, a gym and spa. Fonseca yet asserts that,
“We outline guests’ profile with what they like and what they don’t like, so next time they visit us, the entire experience will be shaped in accordance with their wishes, even those that they did not tell us about but we noticed during the first time they visit us, this way you provide a new WOW experience.”
As a whole, the hotel seeks to constantly anticipate the needs of its guess, always trying to go beyond the conventional. Through powerful relationships and a strong communicative bond between the housekeeping staff and the personal assistants of the villas, the hotel has the ability to provide the best experience possible. The collaborators are trained and always have the care to comprehend every request made by the guests so that the hotel really offers what they are truly looking for. In order for this to occur seamlessly, teams are organised in a way that some individuals are regularly assigned to a certain area of the hotel. This allows for a more efficient assistance towards a guest stay, from beginning to end. Vila Vita’s housekeeping team is comprised of more than 100 collaborators. The supervisor still adds that “there is a structure set up to supervise and guarantee the excellence of the service, which is led by D. Fernanda Silva who has the support of several supervisors in various points/areas of the resort.” Naturally, this service is regarded as one of the best housekeeping structures in the national panorama, not only due to its impressive administration but also in terms of experience.
HOTELS WE COVET //
The aesthetic value of the hotel when it comes to decoration is an-
In conclusion, João Fonseca best explains how the resorts’ house-
other massive factor that favours this service’s notoriety, as João
keeping service of excellence is characterised,
Fonseca discloses.
“We work with decorators to provide an ever-optimized design experience that is never the same from season to season ... we can easily adapt the room to the needs of a guest and we always try to improve the decor. It is an ongoing process. There is a care not to stop and to continue to surprise ... It is a detailed process that follows the trends of the hospitality world. It is a process that seeks to uphold the needs of guests, and it is a process of design and guest experience that is extremely valued.”
“It is a luxury service where we are not limited only to cleaning, but, above all, we take care of the place, but also the guest. It is a leading service where we have to pay attention to the details. We are not just cleaning since we always go to another level.”
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 95.
LUÍS CORREIA THE GARDENER Vila Vita Parc is rightfully considered one of the best luxury resorts
botanical museum, brimming with life and excitement. According
in the world mostly due to its incredible Moorish-influenced archi-
to the proficient gardener, one of the hotel’s areas that gave him the
tecture and being nestled in the dramatic coastline of the Atlantic
utmost satisfaction in working and that best portrays his signature
ocean. However, one of its most impressive features is its landscape
style was “the area of the loungers, next to the cliff ... it was com-
design that actually comprises about two-thirds of the resort. Taking
pletely different”. This is authentically one of the most distinguished
all of this into consideration, CovetED had the opportunity to speak
and beautiful areas of the hotel due to its natural beauty and biodi-
with Luís Correia, one of the main responsible for the astonishing
versity. In addition, the luxury resort features more than 800 palm
gardens and landscape design of the leading hotel. Now, get to know
trees of varied nature as well as over 80 species of plants. Luís Correia
the work of Luís Correia and the luxurious essence of Vila Vita Parc,
highlights the “Árvore do Fogo” (otherwise known as Flame Tree) as
in an exclusive interview.
his most beloved.
Luís Correia started working at the extraordinary Vila Vita Parc 13
Vila Vita Parc also possesses an independent greenhouse area,
years ago. Since that moment, and with the assistance of another 37 gardeners, who are also passionate about this wonderful art, gave origin to some of the most exquisite landscape designs, as he explains
“What we do is the part of gardening, the maintenance of the entire garden, of the lakes, cleaning the streets nearby, caring for animals such as swans and ducks ...”
Vila Vita Parc’s gardens are comprised of a diverse selection of colours, aromas and shapes. There is a massive diversity when it comes to trees and green areas, from palm trees to bushes as well as flowers. One could say that the five-star deluxe resort almost acts as a
“It’s an area that we have, we have sick plants there, we take it there to recover them and then we bring them back.” the luxury resort features more than 800 palm trees of varied nature as well as over 80 species of plants. Luís Correia highlights the “Árvore do Fogo” (otherwise known as Flame Tree) as his most beloved. Vila Vita Parc also possesses an independent greenhouse area,
“It’s an area that we have, we have sick plants there, we take it there to recover them and then we bring them back.”
HOTELS WE COVET //
To Luís Correia, this burning passion for plants and green spaces has
In conclusion, Luís Correia talks about the importance of plants and
been there for quite some time, as he discloses, “I’ve always enjoyed
the care one has to have in order to preserve them,
working outdoors ... One has to really enjoy what they do, otherwise, if they don’t, then there’s no point in doing it”. Regarding the beginning of his career, Correia reveals that “I started by helping constructing golf courses. I was a year in the Azores expanding a course that already existed and then building a new one.” Afterwards, he went on to work on a marine zoo where he had similar responsibilities as he has now in Vila Vita Parc. In what concerns inspiration and learning factors that are quite decisive in his career, Correia believes it is all about
“Plants are living organisms, and for example, at this point and time, we need to be cautious with plagues, temperature and humidity. In regards to the lawn, we need to be aware of fungus while with plants, we need to be careful with lice, if we notice in time, then we can prevent these diseases ... the people that walk the fields, that are in the land, they must pay attention to everything and see what others may not. We have to ascertain that the plants are healthy.”
“Information, we have to research, we have to be up to date, there’s a need for research, books, the internet, people that we work with often host talks ... these lectures are about plants, new trends, new species ... we have to be cautious with the plants, we cannot put a plant the needs sun to survive in the shadow, we need to always have this sort of supervision ... Mr Manuel Cabral is the person behind the architecture and he gives us full support in this area. He is our director and is one of the people that best know and challenges us.”
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 97.
RICARDO RODRIGUES THE SOMMELIER While the Ocean restaurant may be best known for its scrumptious
Working in this industry is a continuous learning process as one has
food, The restaurant’s wine rack is comprised of approximately 560
to often adapt to the environment. For Ricardo, it is important to
national and international wines making it one of the most presti-
know if a guest may be a wine connoisseur or what is their knowl-
gious and largest private vintage wines collection in the entire Iberian
edge of wine and try to answer to their curiosity as well as learning
Peninsula. The selection is carefully overseen by Sommelier Nelson
from them,
Marreiros. CovetED had a moment to talk to Ricardo, a collaborator that does a bit of everything regarding the service of the restaurant but his passion for wine is simply indescribable. Originally from Algarve, Ricardo is quite versatile and multifaceted when it comes to his work at Ocean. His main function is to oversee
“Essentially is about knowing how to read the clients with the questions they ask ... Give as much information as possible and adapt my speech ... they themselves [clients] interfere in a positive way and help with the explanations, but if there are any doubts I’ll gladly explain.”
the service but he can actually handle other things, such as wines, cellar organization, orders, reception, etc. In his previous job, he was
According to Ricardo, guests normally ask for something that is best
responsible for the management of a wine cellar and since then his
suited to their knowledge and reality while wine connoisseurs tend
passion for wine taste grew significantly. Professionally speaking,
to listen more to the sommelier’s recommendation. When asked if
He found it was a necessity to learn more about the taste of wine,
the restaurant had a predefined system regarding the selection of
as he explains
wines, Ricardo thrillingly answered,
“It started growing because I liked it. I started to take some courses, then I left Portugal for two and a half years and now I’m at Ocean’s ... The choice of the wine is an important part of every restaurant, especially this one.”
“Since we’re the ones that do the list, we already know that we’re going to have a particular profile of wines from a particular style or compare it with something from outside.”
HOTELS WE COVET //
He furthers adds that Portuguese wine is the most sold because people want to experience something local. Moreover, the relationship between the chefs and service staff is extraordinarily peaceful, the former allows the latter to taste the dishes in order for them to pair it with the best possible wine. We were curious about what Ricardo would consider what would be the perfect night for a sommelier of a two Michelin starred restaurant to which he answered, “Having tables with wilder, more challenging requests. That the client leaves happy and likes the experience.” The restaurant’s wine cellar is filled with references from all over the world, including Portugal, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany, some from Slovenia, New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Argentina, USA, South Africa. Lastly, we were eager to know what was his favourite kind of wine,
“I’m a big fan of wines from Burgundy, whites and reds, due to the fact that they’re elegant but still a bit rustic. In Portugal, at the moment I’m really loving the new generation from the Dão region. They’re wines with more volume and body, but always refined and fresh.” Ricardo also disclosed that nowadays the market is more focused on wines with more freshness and elegance but that have the ability to evolve with time.
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 99.
RUI PINTO MANAGER OF THE FISH STATION AT THE OCEAN RESTAURANT As soon as you enter Ocean, the signature restaurant of Vila Vita
Before presenting a dish, a lot of thought goes into its creation. Ac-
Parc, you are immediately stunned by the sublime food and seam-
cording to Rui, the team often leaves everything ready before the
less service. The main speciality of the restaurant is definitely fresh-
evening in order to provide the best dining experience possible and be
ly-caught seafood and our luxury magazine had the chance to speak
ahead of any possible challenges that may appear. We were also curi-
to the person that manages the fish station, Rui, who explained us a
ous about the process of creating new dishes to which Rui respond-
bit of the process that goes behind the restaurant’s exceptional fish
ed, “It’s spontaneous, it depends on the time we have, the people and
dishes. Rui has been working at Vila Vita Parc for almost three years,
the produce.” Nevertheless, Hans Neuner and the team are careful
having previously worked on several restaurants in England, Austra-
when presenting new dishes to guests, there is a lot of experimenting
lia and Ireland, so he has been in this industry for quite some time.
that goes into this before actually delivering because everything has
When we were talking to Rui we actually had the opportunity to see
to be perfect until the very last detail. These creations can actually
him do his magic as he was preparing the base for Açorda, a typical-
either be made from scratch or more about finding the flavour or
ly Portuguese dish. When asked what is the main challenge that he
even both, as Rui clarifies,
faces every day, Rui answered, “To do better. To get to the end of the day and understand what went well and what went wrong.” He also shared kind words about the impressive leadership skills of Chef Hans Neuner, “He’s really creative and he’s very good at delegating his team. That’s something that takes time to learn.” Furthermore, Rui values the importance of using regional products in their dishes
“It’s a mixture of both. We want to have good looking things that also taste good. There are a lot of restaurants that serve visually appealing food, but it isn’t flavourful. There are many where it doesn’t look that nice, but the flavour is excellent, those are the ones I prefer.”
as it honours our culture, history and national identity. The cook has always been quite passionate about cuisine, disclosing that
“I’ve always loved eating and cooking for myself. The most important is the pleasure for the food ... I’m more inspired by foods from different places. At 19, I decided to start, I had finished school and didn’t know what to do, so I decided to be a cook.” COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 101.
HOTELS WE COVET //
TIAGO GOMES THE RESTAURANT’S SUPERVISOR
Tiago returned to Portugal because he felt like he wanted to embrace a project in Portugal, a more personal one, one closer to his family and Vila Vita Parc was clearly the perfect fit, as he explains, “I want-
Ocean, the signature restaurant of Vila Vita Parc, provides a gran-
ed to embrace this project because Vila Vita is a unique hotel unit,
diose fine-dining Michelin experience not only due to the amazing
whose purpose is the satisfaction of the client,” assures the supervi-
skills of the chefs but also the attentive staff that guarantees that
sor. The experienced supervisor also talked about his responsibilities
each person leaves the restaurant fully satisfied and craving for more.
within the restaurant. Tiago is the restaurant supervisor and his job
When we were visiting the resort, we had the opportunity to speak
starts backstage where he has to know what will be the operation of
with Tiago, who is in charge of the supervision of the restaurant and
the day or if there are any special requests, “In my day-to- day life, I
has quite the experience in the hospitality industry.
supervise the operation, to see if the standards are being followed. I
Now a proud of Vila Vita Parc’s team for about a year, Tiago worked
also receive and give feedback and support the teams during service,”
for ten years at the Caprice Holdings in London where he improved
discloses Tiago.
his craft immensely and experienced a bit more of a whole new
The most fascinating aspect about Tiago’s work is his ability to orga-
cultural world. His resumé is certainly impressive as he took a few
nise everything extraordinarily well in order to be where he is needed
courses of table service and bar, then he got a degree in hotel manage-
the most, for instance, if a chef needs his support or if there’s a need
ment and he also took numerous wine and sommelier courses, mak-
for updates regarding guest relations, he is always there to give them.
ing him one of the most well- rounded collaborators at the resort.
In addition, what he likes most about his work is the interaction
In regards to the major cultural difference between London and Por-
with clients and even the product itself.
tugal, Tiago had the following to say,
“The market segment there is exceptional but, due to the luxury market, there’s a lot of pressure put on the teams. But we’re very well prepared. The business volume is very high and stable, with an average of 60 people at the front of the house and 400 meals served per day.”
“I think it’s a bit personal, you’re born with it and it can be encouraged or not. It also has to do with my education ... We know that in our country, especially in the Algarve, tourism is the biggest production and work segment. The taste was natural, but I developed it,” explained Tiago when asked about of how his passion and interest for this sector came to be.
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 103.
HÔTEL RELAIS & CHÂTEAUX PARC & SPA GEORGES BLANC VONNAS, FRANCE
The eponymous hotel situated in the Vonnas village, not too far from Lyon and from the Burgundy region in the middle of the Bresse countryside, has a history that spans before the French revolution. Vonnas is a very small and welcoming village that has come a long way since 1872 when Georges Blanc’s great-grandparents decided to settle there as soft drink sellers and café owners. Georges Blanc Parc & Spa was established in 1872 on la Place du Marché in Vonnas. Since then, it has grown beyond the expectations of those who first started the Blanc empire. Nowadays, this luxury village offers numerous rooms, suites and leisure facilities. Guests can enjoy the gastronomic restaurant Georges Blanc, 3 stars in the Michelin Guide, and the property ’s traditional restaurant Ancienne Auberge. The former allows guests to experience a cuisine full of personality, that reflects the chef ’s great character and sensibility. Together with his family, Blanc constantly reinvents Bresse specialities through creations such as the “crêpe
vonnassienne” with salmon and caviar or the legendary Bresse chicken with foie gras that is simply divine! The latter is a true reflection of the traditional and authentical cuisine that has been passed on from three generations. Traditional Bresse Poultry with cream sauce à la Mère Blanc, fresh sautéed Frog Legs the Dombes way, Pike Quenelles or golden liver cake are some of the most soughtafter dishes in the restaurant, that we absolutely recommend. In addition, make sure to go to the restaurant’s rustic veranda that becomes quite enchanting at night due to the exceptional lighting effects. For your leisure, you have to experience the Mosaïc Spa. This will allow you to take some time to rediscover yourself, relax and spend a few hours enjoying the feeling of total well-being. The indoor swimming pool, steam room, sauna and relaxation room are mandatory stops for anyone seeking relaxation during their stay.
HOTELS WE COVET // Over the years, Georges Blanc was very committed to improving and defending the environment, he understood very early on the importance of an embellished and protected environment. Part of the dream and magic regarding the visitor ’s experience is defined by the character of the buildings, the whimsical lighting, the playful use of colours, the proximity of the water, the flowering and green spaces, among many other enticing elements.
The luxury village of Georges Blanc Parc & Spa sits on the banks of the River Veyle and feels like the perfect place for a weekend getaway! Nowadays, the Blanc name doesn’t just represent a restaurant in Vonnas; there’s also a bistro, a shop, no fewer than three hotels, a spa and gardens. The Blanc empire has become a village within a village! Website: www.relaischateaux.com/us/france/blanc-ain-vonnas Address: Place du Marché, 01540 Vonnas, France
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 105.
OD BARCELONA HOTEL BARCELONA, SPAIN
Best known for its instantly recognisable yet unique style, the OD Barcelona Hotel offers an exclusive guest experience with the latest hospitality concepts. It is located in the heart of the Eixample district, just 200m from Paseo de Gracia, in one of the trendiest and most cultural places in Barcelona, that is at a walking distance from all the leading design attractions, including Gaudi’s artwork in the famous boulevard, the Sagrada Familia or the emblematic main square Plaza Cataluña. The vibe in the lobby is just so refreshing and alluring! While you are checking in, you get to order drinks and enjoy an exquisite lounge where you can listen to music, converse with other guests and just have a good time. By this time, you already know that your experience will be indeed unforgettable. OD Hotels has an utterly characteristic identity. It is comprised of 98 generously-sized rooms and suites that have a contemporary and aesthetic design with Mediterranean influences. The wood colour palette used makes guests feel extremely comfortable and welcomed. Furthermore, the hotel has a lustrous lobby lounge, a phenomenally decorated restaurant with a terrace and garden and an outstanding OD Sky Bar. In its extraordinary rooftop terrace, one can enjoy a swimming pool and a solarium where the best cocktails are served while having access to awe-inspiring city views.
Every detail of the hotel is an authentic expression of aesthetic design. The renowned architecture studio, Rahola-Vidal teamed up with interior design Mayte Matutes to conceive the sleek architecture and refined interiors of the hotel. A selection of furnishings and textiles were exclusively made to decorate the hotel and its overall design is complemented by the most advanced technological and sustainable features. Lastly, OD Barcelona also hosts plenty of events, including the classic Burger Meets Gin and Mexican Bruch that create a welcoming and amusing atmosphere that is immensely enjoyed by guests and local residents alike.
Website: www.od-hotels.com/hotel-od-barcelona/ Address: Carrer d’Aragó, 300, 08009 Barcelona, Spain
HOTELS WE COVET //
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 107.
FAIRMONT REY JUAN CARLOS I BARCELONA, SPAIN
This time around, CovetED went to Barcelona to experience the distinguished Fairmont Rey Juan Carlos I, one of the most prestigious hotels in the city. In actuality, this exclusive hospitality design was the masterpiece that granted the Spanish architect, Carlos Ferrater, the National Prize for Architecture in 1993. One will be amazed by the sense of comfort and luxury seen in every division of the hotel. The Deluxe hotel features 432 elegant guest rooms and suites, five permanent and seasonal restaurants and lounges, 24 interior and exterior event spaces, including a lake area and two outdoor swimming pools. In 2015, the hotel started an ambitious renovation process successfully lead by the prestigious London studio Richmond Design Hospitality, lead by Terry McGillicuddy, where he created a bright and lively atrium in keeping with the city’s Mediterranean culture. “This was the objective,” explains McGillicuddy. “To give the hotel a soul, a place within the city it’s in.”
HOTELS WE COVET //
The goal was to create a bright and lively atrium reflecting Barcelona’s local squares and Mediterranean lifestyle with subtle influences of Catalan culture and art. The new design creates a warm, glamorous and luxurious space which invites the guests deep into the atrium towards the hotel retail, food and beverage outlets. Metallic and mirror-clad elements form intimate areas within the spacious atrium shaping a welcoming atmosphere that adds reflection and depth. The integral illumination transforms the arches into a lively and entertaining environment during the evening. The simple forms of these structures have a strong visual presence when viewed from the upper surrounding open corridors and they also create direct views and control guest flow through the atrium. The re-design has enabled the typical guest bedrooms to be opened up, giving the room a more inviting, brighter and generous feel. The palette of neutrals with warm and fresh colour accents add a contemporary flair to the ambience. The window seats and adjacent desk unit draw attention to stunning city views while the introduction of an exquisite dressing table and minibar, grant this space an even more luxurious and modern touch.
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 109.
The re-design has enabled the typical guest bedrooms to be opened up, giving the room a more inviting, brighter and generous feel. The palette of neutrals with warm and fresh colour accents add a contemporary flair to the ambience. The window seats and adjacent desk unit draw attention to stunning city views while the introduction of an exquisite dressing table and minibar, grant this space an even more luxurious and modern touch.
HOTELS WE COVET // A part of the renowned complex is also the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya. Seen as a symbol of contemporary Barcelona, it was designed by the prestigious architects Ferrater and Cartaña and won the “2001 National Architecture Award”. In regards to decor, the convention centre is completed by the use of high-quality materials, from white marmoreal concrete to quartzite as well as Maplewood, resulting in an extremely unique combination of elegance and modernity. Many of the hotel’s characteristics were inspired by some of the greatest attractions in the city, from Gaudi inspired patterns and colours seen in furnishings and artwork to the Les Ramblas, one of Barcelona’s central thoroughfares. We assure that staying at the Fairmont Rey Juan Carlos I will take you on an exceptional journey through Barcelona’s cultural heart and dynamic character.
Website: www.fairmont.com/barcelona/ Address: Avinguda Diagonal, 661-671, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 111.
LE SAINT-JAMES RELAIS & CHÂTEAUX BOULIAC GIRONDE, FRANCE
What do people value the most in a Hotel? The experience. A break from monotony, simple non-expected services that add extra value, comfort and beautiful décor, inspiring surroundings and amazing views of a city or a stunning landscape. Le Saint-James Relais & Châteaux, in Bordeaux, France, is one of the Luxury Hotels of the world that can offer the ultimate luxury experience. Bordeaux, as we all know, is home to some of the most famous vineyards in the world. Wine lovers should know that this beautiful city in the South-West of France is where famous grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc are originally from. But seriously, after-dinner wine discussions, inspiring as they may be, what brought us here was the famous Bordelais vineyards, as the perfect setting for the hotel’s building. Le Saint-James is a stunning contemporary hotel inspired by the tobacco drying barns in the region and designed by the top French Architect and Interior Designer Jean Nouvel. Each of the immaculately designed bedrooms boasts magnificent panoramic views of the surrounding vineyards in the beautiful village of Bouliac (10 km away from the city centre of Bordeaux). We spoke earlier about this hotel offering the ultimate luxury experience, and here is a small but extremely important detail which makes all the difference: The king size beds in each room are positioned at the correct height to take in the outstanding views of Bordeaux, the vineyards and the River Garonne. Nothing more soothing than falling asleep in the comfort of a warm bed while looking at the city lights as Bordeaux’s city centre beams ahead.
All of the fifteen bedrooms and 3 suites have preserved the spirit of Jean Nouvel’s original design and have been finished with contemporary furniture created by famous designers such as Mies Van Der Rohe and Jean Prouvé. Further amenities to experience: a heated outdoor swimming pool, a Michelin star restaurant and cookery school, Côté Cours, and an art gallery. The luxury experience also goes outdoors: Le Saint-James has its own vineyard which is the second smallest vineyard in the entire region and the wine is created on site. Visitors are given the opportunity to take a tour of the Saint-James wine cellar and sample the extensive wines and champagnes on offer. Guests can enjoy views of the hotel’s own vineyard from the bedrooms, terrace and restaurant and they are welcome to wander amongst the vines. Now onto the amazing restaurant: The gourmet restaurant “Le Saint-James” is home to Michelin starred Chef Nicolas Magie. His imaginative, delicious menus are inspired by daily market offerings and are continuously changing with the seasons. CovetED Magazine visited it on a warm beautiful evening of September and was surprised with a sea-inspired menu accompanied by a fine selection of wines (The restaurant cellar boasts around 2000 wines). An amazing experience on the restaurant’s terrace, as summer ended, looking over the famous vineyards which are definitely worth experiencing. We would like to give a special thanks to the amazing staff, who helped create this one of a kind luxury experience. For more information on the Hotel, its Michelin-starred restaurant and Bordeaux’s wine tourism. Website: www.jeannouvel.com Address: 3, place Camille Hostein, 33270 Bouliac Gironde, France
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COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 113.
FOUR SEASONS HOTEL PRAGUE PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
The Five-star Four Seasons Prague is considered to be one of the most lavish hotels in the city, located in the privileged and historic Old Town Square, near some of the most iconic landmarks of Prague, such as the Charles Bridge and the Prague Castle. As soon as you enter the hotel, you can breathe in the history of the city, from the Baroque to neoclassical eras as well as our modern times, and this is why this luxury hospitality venue is so exceptional. Our stay at the Four Seasons Prague was certainly an unexpected journey. The impeccable service leaves guests flabbergasted by the attention and dedication that those who represent the hotel pay guests. If you want to learn more about Prague, also known as the City of a Hundred Spires, visiting this unique hotel is a good way to do so. The walls of the hotel tell a centenary tale that is further enhanced by the unmatched vibrancy of the interiors.
While the original design was by Frank Nicholson, recently, the decor was renovated by the renowned designer, Pierre-Yves Rochon. The hotel features a wide range of design styles, from classy to contemporary and reflects elements from different eras. In a few words, Four Seasons Prague could be best described as “timeless” and “upscale”. The Hotel is comprised of 157 rooms, including 19 rooms, complemented by rich woods, marble floors and decorative pieces. We were marvelled by the Old European charm sensed in these spaces and we also had sweeping views of the Vltava river. Another space you ought to visit the hotel is the astonishing Cottocrudo restaurant. The highly respected Chef Di Clemente, alongside a team of culinary experts, creates local and traditional dishes spiced up with a Mediterranean approach.
HOTELS WE COVET //
The interiors of both the restaurant and bar design by EDG Studio who created a creamy-hued space with colourful artworks and pendant designer lights. The Saffron risotto and the Cavatelli pasta are definitely two main dishes you should taste, they are simply exquisite. Furthermore, the hotel also has a phenomenal wellness spa that combines centuries-old healing traditions with modern technologies. This exclusive zen-space is nestled in a historic neoclassical building that overlooks the Prague Castle. As a whole, the Four Seasons Prague is a must-visit destination with an unrivalled riverside elegance. Website: www.fourseasons.com/prague/ Address: VeleslavĂnova 1098/2a, 110 00 Praha 1 - StarĂŠ Msto, Czechia
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 115.
ESTORIL WELLNESS CENTER LISBON, PORTUGAL
Modern techniques and therapies, as well as the knowledge passed on throughout generations, allows the Banyan Tree Spa spa to offer dozens of treatments representing a sanctuary for the senses, a feeling reinforced by its comfortable environment, elegance and exotism. The exclusive spa is best known for its holistic approach and one can expect to have one of the best wellness experiences of this kind, we certainly did. All treatments are conducted by experts exclusively trained at the Banyan Tree Spa Academies using unique techniques and the most renowned and popular essential oils, salts, herbs and spices. Banyan Tree Spa features an indulgent array of massages, each designed to soothe the body and release muscle tension through the healing touch of our professionally trained therapists. One thing we guarantee, you will emerge from each massage completely relaxed and rejuvenated.
SPA //
The fact that the spa has the experience of a renowned chain such as Banyan Tree, who specialises in luxury resorts and SPAs in locations such as the Maldives, Seychelles, Thailand, among others, it allows it to provide both the local population and tourists alike, high-quality, luxury and a totally different kind of exoticism. By combining Eastern millennial knowledge and modern Western techniques and using the most recognised essential oils, plants and spices, the Banyan Tree Spa Estoril offers a unique experience that rejuvenates not only physically but also spiritually those looking for their luxurious services.
Website: www.estorilwellnesscenter.pt/ Address: Rua Particular Hotel Palรกcio, 2769-504 Estoril
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 117.
LAURENT AT HOTEL CAFÉ ROYAL LONDON, UK
The exquisite Laurent restaurant is located on the first floor of
Designed by contemporary Italian architect and designer Piero
the Hotel Cafe Royal, above the impressive new lobby featuring
Lissoni, an extensive refurbishment has created an entirely new
a 17 feet double height Murano glass chandelier by legendary
space. An open kitchen, grill and sushi bar creates a convivial space
Italian glassmaker Vistosi. Offering a relaxed yet refined all-day
with refined all-day dining, and booth seating and lighting by Lissoni
dining concept in line with today’s contemporary lifestyles, the
introduces an informal but sophisticated atmosphere.
informal lunch and dinner menus will be centred around the parilla grill, a traditional iron grill barbecue, originally from Argentina,
The stunning chandelier rains down from the high ceiling setting the
allowing the chef to control the heat to ensure perfectly cooked
mood for a classy, luxurious and tasteful dinner. The smell from the
chargrilled meat or fish. Taking a step back to 15 years ago, Chef
kitchen fills up the room with indescribable desires as the staff make
Laurent Tourondel has long championed ‘easy going’ food and
everyone in the room feel unique and special. A carefully curated
accessibility, and his varied and diverse menu encourages casual
menu is then presented to you. In it, you can find the exquisite
and relaxed dining.
options that range from the freshest fish to the tenderest meat, not forgetting the sublime sushi, carefully prepared by the experienced
When we arrived on spot, we were warmly welcomed by the hotel’s
sushi men. Even though there are no wrong choices in Laurent, we
staff, and completely unaware that, in the balcony right above our
strongly recommend the wagyu beef short ribs or the Aberdeen
heads, dinner was getting served. Once we’ve climbed up the stairs,
Angus fillet, paired with an exquisite bottle of Barbera d’Asti. As for
we found ourselves surrounded by an ambience that transpired
dessert, we recommend the milk chocolate peanut butter croquant
elegance, design and fine dining. The restaurant’s divided into two
with a glass of 20 years old Tawny Ramos Port Wine.
rooms: the classic one and the more modern one, with stunning views over Regent Street.
Website: www.laurentatcaferoyal.com/ Address: 68 Regent Street, London, W1B 4D
WORLD’S FINEST RESTAURANTS //
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 119.
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 121.
RESTAURANT RIFF VALENCIA, SPAIN
Bernd Knoller
The exceptional Riff Restaurant is nestled in an excellent location,
perfect symbiosis between civilization and nature. This was
right in the centre of Valencia. As soon as you enter the restaurant
certainly an amazing surprise.
you can sense perfect harmony and a personal and refreshing
But, speaking of what matters the most, the restaurant specialises
character that makes one’s experience 100 times better. The
above all in Mediterranean cuisine, creating marvellous seafood
attentive and friendly staff provides an optimised service and
dishes. Speaking from experience, we tasted a unique set of flavours
Bernd Knöller, the proficient chef ahead of the restaurant ensures
and sensations. Each dish was served with an explanation of what
that everyone’s request is met to the fullest.
we were eating by the chefs, especially from Bernd Knöller himself.
Knöller opened up this dreamy venue back in 200. He pays
Suddenly, he explained to us how he chooses the ingredients
especially focus to products, and as such, they are always the
carefully on a daily basis, and for this reason, this restaurant doesn’t
main protagonist of every creation. The extremely skilled chef
feature a set menu, the dishes are made using what nature offers. It
transmits his unmeasurable passion for Mediterranean cuisine,
depends on what the fishermen catch in the sea, and from there he
giving it his own original spin. In virtue of such, in 2009, the fine
develops the most astonishing culinary pieces. As a whole, visiting
dining restaurant was recognised with a Michelin star as well as
Riff is an experience you ought to have. Everything is superb and
two Repsol soles.
magnificent, from the sublime cuisine to the well-appointed
When it comes to the interiors, a more neutral palette with
interiors, not to mention the utterly friendly ambience.
small pops of colour and wooden elements create a warm and elegant ambience. The curtains are extremely soft to the touch. Furthermore, smooth materials were used in order to create the
Website: www.restaurante-riff.com/en/ Address: Carrer del Comte d’Altea, 18, 46005 València, Spain
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 123.
FORTALEZA DO GUINCHO LISBON, PORTUGAL
Opened in 1998, the renowned Restaurant Fortaleza do Guincho offers a fine dining restaurant concept with Portuguese and French influences. CovetED had the fortunate thrill of visiting this luxury hospitality venue, located in one of the most stunning areas of Cascais where guests will have the chance to fully experience the history and culture of the region. The internationally acclaimed Chef Antoine Westermann came to introduce haute cuisine to the restaurant and, since then, the restaurant has rapidly become a top destination in Portugal. In 2001, the restaurant received a Michelin star. Over the years, some of the modern references in Portuguese cuisine passed on to the Fortaleza do Guincho, causing the restaurant to acquire the status of a ‘school’. Originally with a classic French base, Portuguese products and traditions have been gaining more and more prominence in the Fortaleza do Guincho. The concept of the restaurant is intimately linked to the inspiration Antoine Westermann
that comes from the Sea or this wouldn’t be a restaurant with a privileged view of Praia do Guincho. In the restaurant, guests can experience the best fish and seafood from the Portuguese coast. Each dish encompasses a wide variety of local and national products that have the highest quality possible that will take on a unique journey of flavours. Fortaleza do Guincho won its first Michelin star in 2001 and is now managed by the Executive Chef Gil Fernandes. To eat here is a dining experience you’ll never forget: with all the luminosity since it is wrapped in glasses that allow the light to enter from every angle. From the service of excellence provided by the staff to the extraordinarily divine menu and wine, the Fortaleza do Guincho is a place with an unmatched gastronomic allure for all of those who visit the centre of Portugal. Website: www.fortalezadoguincho.com Address: Rua Figueira do Guincho, 2750-642 Cascais
WORLD’S FINEST RESTAURANTS //
Paulo Pinto
BELVEDERE RISTORANTE LISBON, PORTUGAL
Have you ever been to an Italian restaurant whose menu isn’t
Imagine sitting on a terrace overlooking the sea and a carpaccio
comprised solely of pizzas? Well, the Belvedere Ristorante in
of veal with arugula, parmesan and pesto, combined with Italian
Cascais, one of the newest and most authentic dining addresses in
cheese and charcuterie, figs and green olives. If you prefer sautéed
the region, goes beyond the basics by offering the best traditional
mussels with dried tomato sauce and roasted peppers, the Belvedere
Italian flavours of various regions of the country. CovetED had the
will not let you down and you can still count on the suggestion of
immense pleasure of visiting this unique and vibrant restaurant
octopus with artichokes, dried tomatoes and arugula. All of these
that is located in the outstanding five-star hotel, Grande Real Villa
become possible due to the incredible culinary talent of Chef Paulo
Italia Hotel & Spa.
Pinto and his experienced team.
The deluxe hospitality venue prides itself on the fact that Belvedere
From the sophisticated interior design to the sublime and
Ristorante brings to Cascais the best of Italian cuisine through the
traditional cuisine as well as the suggestive outdoor terrace dining
palate. In addition to the delicious cuisine, the Belvedere Ristorante
area, we believe that guests are bound to have one of the most
also offers spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean.
memorable gastronomic experiences.
One’s gastronomic experience gets immediately enhanced by the interiors of the restaurant. We were absolutely stunned by the welcoming and harmonious environment that follows a more
Website: www.granderealvillaitalia.realhotelsgroup.com/en/restaurants/ belvedere-ristorante Address: Rua Frei Nicolau de Oliveira 100, 2750-319 Cascais
classical and aristocratic approach.
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 125.
OCEAN AT VILA VITA PARC ALGARVE, PORTUGAL
Besides the highly curated interiors, phenomenal landscape design, outstanding architecture and access to private beaches, Vila Vita Parc, one of the leading hotels in the Algarve, houses yet a mesmerising Michelin-starred restaurant that is simply divine! Ocean! Offering a mouth-watering dining experience, the curated seasonal menus of Ocean are prepared by Austrian Executive Chef, Hans Neuner, who since 2007, has been managing the kitchen creating some of the most exquisite dishes in the world. Freshly-caught seafood is one of the main specialities of the restaurant while organically-raised meat from the resort’s own farm also seems to steal the show. The peacefully casual yet extremely elegant interiors are also another knocked-out. Blue and gold are certainly some of the most dominating palettes in the restaurant, reflecting a serene seaside-inspired design while elements such as corals on Ocean’s side walls and Murano crystals in the form of medusas by the entrance, definitely giving an interesting twist to the overall atmosphere of the restaurant.
WORLD’S FINEST RESTAURANTS //
Exclusive Interview with Hans Neuner, Ocean’s chef CovetED had the incredible pleasure of talking to the proficient chef and pick his brain a bit about what goes behind the scenes of this two Michelin stars fine dining venue. Hans Neuner came to Portugal 10 years ago, and since then, he has faced many challenges to make Ocean and his culinary skills known worldwide. The dining scene in Portugal is quite different from what the chef was used to in other countries, as he discloses, “In the first years, to be honest, everything was a little bit slow compared to Germany or Switzerland. It took a little bit more time, we needed to learn.” Now, his team is a lot bigger than before and provides the most scrumptious dishes. Neuner and Ocean’s mission is focused on being recognised by the prestigious Michelin Guide as well as providing guests with the ultimate dining experience. It was four years ago that they were awarded their first star. The second one came two years later. Both were a delightful surprise and a source of pride for those involved. His ambition and dedication to become one of the world’s best chefs, led him to where he is today. His parents are doctors while his grandparents are teachers, but Neuner’s passion for cuisine spoke louder, as he explains, “Yes, they are happy. I did my apprenticeship in my hometown and then I went to Berlin. I worked for 5 years in the best hotel in Europe, I met a lot of professionals and that’s when I really started to learn.” The fact that the restaurant already has two Michelin stars brings a lot of challenges for Neuner. His main concern is to always ensure that both the restaurant’s service and the food quality are always superior to what the guests may expect. Freedom and creativity prevail over the restaurant’s environment as the Chef allows his team to fully express themselves, “Everybody is allowed to bring Hans Neuner
their ideas and we always think about the dishes together.”
Website: www.restauranteocean.com Address: Rua Anneliese Pohl, 8400-450 Porches
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 127.
CASA DE CHÁ DA BOA NOVA PORTO, PORTUGAL
Situated in Leça da Palmeira, the Casa de Chá de Boa Nova restaurant is regarded as one of the best gastronomic establishments in the North of Portugal. It features an audacious and unique architecture in virtue of the geniality of Álvaro Siza Vieira. CovetED had the opportunity to experience the energetic atmosphere of this exclusive venue and converse with Rui Paula, the proficient chef responsible for the restaurant who is originally from Porto and whose career speaks for itself. Casa de Chá da Boa Nova is governed by tradition and a sense of daringness known in the region. The restaurant presents a modern and aesthetically appealing design and also provides sweeping sea views to its guests. It was in 2016 that the restaurant, under the management of Rui Paula, was awarded its first Michelin star. The exclusive dining venue specialises in providing the most scrumptious fish and seafood dishes, presenting three different degustation menus. According to Paula, “fish allows for connections” and encompasses a set of memories, whether it is in regard to the palate or the history of our country, voyages or even family experiences that improve its value.
Rui Paula
The preparation of fish and the creative process behind it are quite thorough and chef Rui Paula is constantly trying to reinvent the restaurant by introducing innovative techniques in all its services, and we just have to say that the future holds numerous surprises in store. Website: www.casadechadaboanova.pt/ Address: Rua da Boa Nova, 4450-705 Leça da Palmeira
WORLD’S FINEST RESTAURANTS //
“We always try to rise up to the occasion and what people expect from us, our food and our home. It is not easy, every day we try to do more and better. A dish has to be a sensorial and cultural experience where the environment of the restaurant and its scenic context play the leading part. The Casa de Chá da Boa Nova restaurant seeks to innovate its service, its availability, its relationship with the client and to create all the necessary conditions for them to feel extremely welcome.” Rui Paula
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 129.
Le Préssoir D’Argent, the very rare solid silver lobster press after which the restaurant was named
Photographe : Yoris Photographe
LE PRESSOIR D’ARGENT GORDON RAMSAY BORDEAUX, FRANCE
Imagine this: The Place de la comédie in the heart of Bordeaux,
Then, came the unique creative minds who brought this venue to
an 18th century former stately home now converted to “France’s
the 21st century through their exquisite talent: Jacques Garcia and
leading hotel 2018” - InterContinental Bordeaux - Le Grand Hotel
Gordon Ramsay.
- decorated by one of the French leading Interior Designers – Jacques
Following a long period of closure, the Grand Hotel has experienced
Garcia – and a Michelin-starred restaurant led by one of the world’s
a renaissance since 2007, after a very definite metamorphosis that
most successful chefs – Gordon Ramsay.
lasted eight years. The interiors were recreated by one of best interior
The perfect setting is now created. CovetED Magazine experienced
designers in the world, Jacques Garcia, who chose an elegant, Baroque
a superb dinner at Le Pressoir D’Argent and we were our reader’s
opulence that perfectly enhances the Neoclassicism of the building:
eyes in a luxury experience that we are now sharing.
Bronze footed furniture and wall brackets, studded Napoleon III
First, the History of the building: originally from 1789, this historical
armchairs covered with velvet upholstery and trimmings, lush
monument first became a hotel back in 1904. Its Neo-Classical
watered silk drapes, thick carpets in dark red designs, subdued
facade, complete with stylish Corinthian collonades, faces the
lighting from pleated lampshades, red and grey marble: all created
magnificent Grand-Théâtre de Bordeaux, built ten years earlier by
an impressive and serene atmosphere. Gordon Ramsay needs no
the same architect. These two buildings with their interrelated
introduction. He is one of the most famous chefs in the world,
destinies - beloved by the people of Bordeaux for generations - form
of course, for his television show “Kitchen Nightmares “, and has
a unique and intrinsic architectural ensemble.
worked with and perfected his talent with prestigious master chefs
WORLD’S FINEST RESTAURANTS //
Photographe : Yoris Photographe
Gordon Ramsay and Gilad Peled
Photographe : Yoris Photographe
Photographe : Yoris Photographe
such as Guy Savoy and Joël Robuchon. Ramsay leads the menus of
on the collectable silver lobster press mentioned before and the
The Grand Hotel’s restaurant: Le Pressoir d’Argent, a Two-Michelin-
region of Bordeaux, well known for its wine tradition.
Starred restaurant. Interesting fact: the restaurant gets its name
Le Pressoir d’Argent Gordon Ramsay is managed also by the talented
from the impressive and very rare solid silver lobster press, made
chef Gilad Peled who shows great respect for the quality of local
by the famous Parisian luxury flatware brand Christofle: one of the
produce and runs the staff with an impressive passion. A quick
only five worldwide. This collector’s item is used daily to crush the
note to the sublime pastry created by the French pastry chef Arthur
shell and carcass of the blue lobster, in order to extract the juices.
Fèvre who at the young age of 21 was awarded the Dessert d’Or
A time-honoured ritual that took place in front of our eyes, during
(The Golden Dessert) of the French Dessert Championship for his
an exquisite dinner. The menu is a hymn to the art of fine dining.
creation entitled “Caramel et citron en fine vagues croustillantes”.
Featuring the superb produce of the region’s culinary heritage, each
Is your curiosity awakened? Discover Le Pressoir d’Argent by
course is a mix of freshness, exploding flavours and gourmet artistry
yourself, it is definitely worth a trip to Bordeaux for the luxury
– a feast for all the five senses. The luxury experience is completed
experience you are going to get.
by the knowledgeable staff who not only carefully described each course but also engaged on satisfying a Fine Dining lover’s curiosity
Website: www.bordeaux.intercontinental.com/en/ Address: 2-5, Place de la Comédie - 33000 Bordeaux - France
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 131.
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COLOURS
A Perception of Reality or Fashion’s Nature? Are colours real? Do colours actually exist, or are mere individual perceptions of light waves? Although they’re not real in a physical, 3-dimensional way, it’s very difficult to argue their existence. In fact, we, as individuals, tend to perceive colours in rather different ways due to the nature of our brain activity and perception. For example, the dress challenge. Remember that striped black and blue / gold and white social media challenge? That’s probably the best example we could think regarding the nature of the unique way people see colour. The real question is, does this have any significant impact on the fashion industry? Some people see colours lighter than other, some darker, or even in different other shades. There’s an old Portuguese saying ‘’Á noite todos os gatos são pardos’’, which translates to something like ‘’At night, every cat is black’’, meaning that when is dark, things are harder to tell apart. Colours change when the light change, as the width of the light waves enlarges or shortens, changing the deepness of the shade. That’s why we have several different outfits for the various stages of the day. We have cocktail dresses, we have working outfits, we have brunch outfits, we have rainy days outfits, we have it all. Even the seasons have completely different tones. The same ones we wear in Spring/ Summer aren’t the same ones we use in Fall/Winter. The importance of colour in fashion is quite inexplicable. One cannot exist without the other. Fashion without colour is like a ship without the captain. It simply doesn’t work. The importance of colour in fashion is so big, so deep and so intricate that they dictate what to wear. As usual, Pantone, based on the New York Fashion Week, forecasted the colours that will be massive trends in upcoming Spring/Summer. By analyzing the presenting designers’ choices, the Colour Institute can indeed predict the colours that will be trending for the upcoming seasons. Well, according to the grand masters of colour, we’ll have some party-worthy comebacks that will most certainly worm up the season.
TROPICAL TONES This will be a major trend in 2019. The good thing about trends is that they come and go, and come again. This is the case for the tropical hues. They were a major trend in the previous year, and they’ll make a huge comeback thanks to shades such as Pink Peacock, Living Coral and Mango Mojito.
FASHION //
DANCING PRONE COLOURS An element of reflectivity and luminosity features in this dark to white range pulled from the colour spectrum, as a techno wave mood inspires. The depth of colour ranges with the final application, subtle through matte delivery to an enlightening experience to more brilliant and gloss finishes. Look out for shades such as Aspen Gold, Fiesta Red and Eclipse Blue.
FANTASIA INSPIRING HUES A collision of colours emerges with a redefined vibrancy for synthetics and hybrid blends. Focus on a truly synthetic level of intensity and vivacity or you can opt for a pared-down approach by teaming with a more natural hand teamed with the neutrals. A fantastical and experimental colour palette, leading the way for change, whether it be subtle or full-on drama. Look for shades such as Princess Blue, Sweet Lilac and Turmeric
JUNGLE With natural fibres taking a stronger position for the season, the vitality and brilliance that nature can also offer truly inspires. From intense blues to lush greens accentuated by energetic red tones, the key to this palette in keeping it sharp. A perfect palette to work with, delivering a refreshing and awesome approach derived from the unique aspects of nature. Look for shades like Pepper Stern, Terrarium Moss and Jester Red.
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 135.
Aldeco Website: www.aldeco.pt Address: Rua da Saibreira, 265/269 - Parque Industrial de Grijó 4415-538 Grijó VNG, Portugal ALEXANDER BRENNER Architekten Website: https://alexanderbrenner.de/ Address: Dipl.-Ing. BDA, Parlerstrasse 45, DE-70192 Stuttgart Belvedere Ristorante Website: http://www.granderealvillaitalia.realhotelsgroup.com/ en/restaurants/belvedere-ristorante Address: R. Frei Nicolau de Oliveira 100, 2750-319 Cascais Boca do Lobo Website: www.bocadolobo.com Address: Rua Particular de Regueirais nº33, 4435-379 Rio Tinto, Porto, Portugal Ch Tea Room Kobe Website: http://ch-tearoom.com/ Address: Japan, 〒650-0033 Hyōgo Prefecture, Kobe, Chuo Ward, Edomachi, 98-1 東町江戸町ビル1F Brabbu Website: www.brabbu.com Address: Rua Particular de Regueirais nº33, 4435-379 Rio Tinto, Porto, Portugal Casa de Chá da Boa Nova Website: http://www.casadechadaboanova.pt/ Address: Rua da Boa Nova, 4450-705 Leça da Palmeira Château de Drudas Website: https://www.chateaudedrudas.com/en/charming-hotel-toulouse Address: Château de drudas, le village, 31480 Drudas, France Circu Website: www.circu.net Address: Rua Particular de Regueirais nº33, 4435-379 Rio Tinto, Porto, Portugal COVET DOURO Website: www.covethouse.eu Address: Avenida Clube de Caçadores, 4604 4515-654 Porto COVET NYC Website: www.covethouse.eu Address: “The Mansion”, 172 Madison Ave, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10016 COVET PARIS Website: www.covethouse.eu Address: 154 Rue des Rosiers, 93400 Saint-Ouen, Paris-France
COVET LONDON Website: www.covethouse.eu Address: 1 Regal House Lensbury Avenue, Fulham London, SW6 2GZ
Maison Valentina Website: www.maisonvalentina.net Address: Rua Particular de Regueirais nº33, 4435-379 Rio Tinto, Porto, Portugal
DelightFULL Website: www.delightfull.eu Address: Rua Particular de Regueirais nº33, 4435-379 Rio Tinto, Porto, Portugal
Ocean at Vila Vita Parc Website: http://www.restauranteocean.com/ Address: R. Anneliese Pohl, 8400-450 Porches
Essential Home Website: www.essentialhome.eu Address: Rua Particular de Regueirais nº33, 4435-379 Rio Tinto, Porto, Portugal Estoril Wellness Center Website: http://www.estorilwellnesscenter.pt/ Address: Rua Particular Hotel Palácio, 2769-504 Estoril Europacity Paris Website: http://www.europacity.com/ Address: Triangle de Gonesse’s ZAC Fairmont Rey Juan Carlos I Website: https://www.fairmont.com/barcelona/ Address: Avinguda Diagonal, 661-671, 08028 Barcelona, Spain Fortaleza do Guincho Website: https://www.fortalezadoguincho.com/ Address: R. Figueira do Guincho, 2750-642 Cascais Four Seasons Hotel Prague Website: https://www.fourseasons.com/prague/ Address: Veleslavínova 1098/2a, 110 00 Praha 1 - Staré Město-Staré Město, Czechia Gran Hotel Inglés Website: https://www.granhotelingles.com/ Address: Calle Echegaray, 8, 28014 Madrid, Spain Hôtel Relais & Châteaux Parc & Spa Georges Blanc Website: https://www.relaischateaux.com/us/france/blancain-vonnas Address: Place du Marché, 01540 Vonnas, France Laurent at Hotel Café Royal Website: https://laurentatcaferoyal.com/ Address: 68 Regent Street, London, W1B 4D Luxxu Website: www.luxxu.net Address: Rua Particular de Regueirais nº33, 4435-379 Rio Tinto, Porto, Portugal
OD Barcelona Hotel Website: https://www.od-hotels.com/hotel-od-barcelona/ Address: Carrer d’Aragó, 300, 08009 Barcelona, Spain Ourivesaria Tavares Website: https://www.ourivesariatavares.pt/ Address: R. da Junqueira 54, 4490-519 Póvoa de Varzim PecherSKY Complex Website: http://pechersky.com.ua/en/ Address: bul. Druzhby narodiv, 40 / Bolsunovska 2 Preggo Website: www.mdpreggo.com Address: Tv. Marques de Sá 68, 4435-324 Rio Tinto Pullcast Website: www.pullcast.eu Address: Rua Particular de Regueirais nº33, 4435-379 Rio Tinto, Porto, Portugal Restaurante RiFF Website: https://www.restaurante-riff.com/en/ Address: Carrer del Comte d’Altea, 18, 46005 València, Spain Rockwell Group Europe Website: https://www.rockwellgroup.com/index.php Address: Calle de Alcalá, 21, 28014 Madrid, Spain Rug’Society Website: www.rugsociety.eu Address: Rua Particular de Regueirais nº33, 4435-379 Rio Tinto, Porto, Portugal VILA VITA Parc Resort & Spa Website: https://vilavitaparc.com/en/welcome Address: Rua Anneliese Pohl, Alporchinhos, 8400-450 Porches YøDezeen Architects Website: https://yodezeen.com/ Address: Lipinskogo str.4, office 5-6, Kiev, Ukraine
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