January 2015 Heart Home Mag by Heart Home magazine

January 2015

Welcome Home from the Editors

We have cast our net wide in this New Year issue, from a sunny rooftop apartment in Munich, to an industrial warehouse conversion in New York and back to a charming country cottage in the English countryside. Each of our homes has something different to share, be it a penchant for potted plants, a fabulous view or a loyalty to Farrow & Ball paints, and hopefully each will inspire you in your quest for your own unique home. Even our shopping pages take inspiration from afar and from different climates. Maybe

you are happy to make the most of scenic mountain views and cosy up with chunky textiles, or maybe you are yearning for some sun? In which case our Mediterranean style kitchen ideas will keep you warm until spring arrives. And if comfort eating gets you through the winter months, we have a mouth-watering recipe for you to try, as well as three fabulous destination restaurants. Here’s to a happy and prosperous New Year.

Carole and Arianna COVER PHOTOGRAPH by IGOR JOSIFOVIC • EDITORS’ PHOTOGRAPH by ANDREW BOYD

The Heart Home Family

JOINT EDITORS IN CHIEF CAROLE KING ARIANNA TRAPANI

ART EDITOR MELLISA HARRISON

PHOTOGRAPHERS IGOR JOSEF LINA SKUKAUSKE GIEDRE AUGUSTINAVICIUTE SETH CAPLAN JURGITA VASKEL

WRITERS KELLY LAVENDER ELLIE WALKER-ARNOTT LIGGY GRIFFITHS

STYLISTS KATE BAXTER

RESEARCHER ROCHELLE COOTE

Contents HOMES 8 Up on the Roof – A plant filled

Munich apartment belonging to blogger Igor Josifovic.

30 New York State of Mind –

A warehouse conversion in the DUMBO neighbourhood of Brooklyn.

42 Decorating with Colour – An

extract from Farrow and Ball’s latest book featuring the home of author Ros Byam Shaw.

SHOPPING 20 Rocky Mountain – Take inspiration

from Chalet chic Alpine adventures with fun graphic colour pops, raw-edged textiles and ski resort motifs.

48 Escape to the Sun – Kitchens with just

a touch of Mediterranean flavour.

6 News and Previews – The latest and

greatest new products in our shops for the start of 2015.

FEATURES 22 Family Inspirations – Sophie

Conran talks about interior design, cooking and her busy life.

50 Recipe – A delicious Layered Pear

Cake with Honey Frosting.

52 Eat, Drink, Enjoy – Three

atmospheric destination restaurants to try out in the New Year.

SALE NOW ON www.maudinteriors.com

News and Previews... When laid flat this clever new storage unit from Vale Interiors becomes a small town with homes, fences, trees and a swimming pool. Hang it on the wall and it becomes a handy place for all those bits and bobs. ‘Suburbia’ is available in a natural or white finish and is

Pared-back luxury is what we’ve come to expect from Tori Murphy. Along with crafted products with character and integrity. Cushion from £65, throws, £250.

£269.

Dulux have announced that their colour of the year for 2015 is Copper Blush. This warm shade is highly sought after at the moment, with copper tones being tipped to be the colour of the moment in fashion as well as interiors.

Screen printed on the inside and out, interior accessories brand Lane have recently launched 6 new colourways for their highly praised Twin Tone Lampshade

in collaboration with British paint brand Little Greene. £65 from Lane’s online shop and selected retailers. 6

The Murrayfield chair in Little Butterfly Gardens fabric is a new collaboration between Multiyork and Osborne & Little. It’s just one of 15 new fabric designs available and is priced at £1,439.

A round up of the latest and greatest coming your way in 2015.

By Carole King

The Orient is a new collection from Gerard Lewis Designs featuring a black or dark wenge finish with silver mirror insets and applied astragal beading. The ARMOIRE is £1,680.

Tesco Direct are looking to the wild west for inspiration this spring with layers of DESERT HUES and chunky textures.

Available in a choice of colourways but stunning in black and white, the new ESTRELLA tile, £222 psm,

The Idaho large sofa in chocolate leather is £949, the Arizona coffee table, £199, the large Green Bottle vase, £15 and the Retro Dipped Mugs £15, for a pack of four.

Bert & May.

NEW DESIGNS FROM WOVENGROUND INCLUDE DANISH DESIGNED LEATHER RUGS, HANDMADE INTO GEOMETRIC PATTERNS IN A MONOCHROME PALETTE. AMBITION ROUND RUG (SHOWN)

£549.

The Ted Baker ‘Rosie Lee’ collection in collaboration with Portmeirion will be available from March. Sure to add a touch of spring to afternoon tea, this five piece set comprising a dinner plate, salad plate, bread and butter plate and cup and saucer is £75. 7

Heart Homes

Up on the roof Overlooking the beautiful city of Munich, Igor Josifovic’s urban apartment is far from your average bachelor pad. WORDS BY KELLY LAVENDER PICTURES BY IGOR JOSIFOVIC & LINA SKUKAUSKE

With its stunning rooftop views over the beautiful Old Town of Munich, for 36-yearold social media manager and blogger Igor Josifovic his 1.5 roomed apartment is most definitely his castle. Moving to Munich from Vienna seven years, Igor has made this little patch of the German city his home and says he never tires of the building’s site. “The location in the Old Town of Munich is what attracted me to the flat originally, plus the fact that it is a rooftop apartment,” Igor explains. “Looking out of the windows I overlook the rooftops of old Munich and its fairy-tale-like towers.”

“I love to find one-of-a-kind vintage pieces . . . I have a soft spot for vintage ceramics” Being among the sixty per cent or so of Germans who rent their homes, for Igor adding personal touches to make the apartment welcoming was key. And it’s something he does very well, by scouring the internet for pieces that are individual and picking up ideas while travelling.

interior design company Studio Oink. I also like to go thrifting on eBay and Etsy. For furniture I like to have a look at companies such as Bolia, West Elm and Hem”.

“My latest bargains are some mid-century ceramic pieces that I found on eBay. I have a soft spot for He says: “I love to find one-of-a-kind vintage vintage ceramics and my collection is growing pieces in the online store Selected, by the German thanks to those bargains.” 11

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have potted and re-potted lots of plants and I love to keep them happy and alive.â&#x20AC;?

With a style influenced by sleek Scandinavian interiors enriched with colourful, ethnic patterns which pay reference to Igor’s Serbian roots and globetrotting personality, colour and pattern are put to good use throughout his apartment. But with his home comprising a living/dining room and bedroom connected through an open arch, plus a kitchenette and bathroom, Igor admits that getting the mix just right in this small space has been a challenge. “I think I had too many colours and too many playful patterns previously,” he says. “But I guess my taste and appreciation for design has changed over time.” Plants also play a significant role in Igor’s home, bringing a sense of nature and the great outdoors into this most urban of settings. As a self-confessed ‘urban jungle blogger’, Igor believes that plants are an important element of a home’s design. “Plants make our lives better, happier and healthier,” he explains. “I have potted and re-potted lots of plants and I love to keep them happy and alive.” 15

“I love my bedroom as it is tucked under a pitched roof wall and super cosy – a little nest over the Munich rooftops to relax and get new creative ideas.”

Combined with the grey walls and colourful furnishings and accessories, the plants help create a relaxing atmosphere throughout the apartment, which isn’t so much ‘cosy’ as welcoming and full of personality. “I like to unwind with a good book or my favourite magazines and a cup of coffee or tea, depending on the hour. I cherish those moments as they are pretty rare lately,” he says.

Creating a happy home is not only Igor’s focus when choosing furnishings for his apartment, but it’s also central to his blog too. “Beautiful interiors, design discoveries, home décor ideas, travel inspiration and plants – all these elements play a major role in the blog and in my life,” he explains. “It is about the happiness to live beautifully, to surround yourself with everything you love and to embark on voyages to discover new inspiration With the apartment being laid out in an open- around the globe.” plan manner, having a preference over any one part of it may prove difficult, but Igor admits: “I You can find Igor blogging at www. love my bedroom as it is tucked under a pitched happyinteriorblog.com. roof wall and super cosy – a little nest over the Munich rooftops to relax and get new creative To join Igor’s ‘green family’ of urban jungle bloggers visit www.urbanjunglebloggers.com. ideas.” 17

“Beautiful interiors, design discoveries, home décor ideas, travel inspiration and plants – all these elements play a major role in the blog and in my life,”

Style Steal

Heart Shopping

Get the look

Stockholm mirror, £60, Ikea • DSR chair by Vitra, £223, Skandium • Zigzag Wool Rug in Iron, £109 -£599, West Elm • White Owl Bookends, £24, Marquis and Dawe • The Escapade Print, £15, Bodi and Fou • Square Brass Candlestand, £34.95, Not on The High Street • G&T Carve Side Table, POA, Bethan Gray • Flower Me Happy Pot Karl, EUR 80, Meyer-Lavigne • House Style Magazine Rack, £19.95, Not on The High Street • Herly Stone Terraruim, £44, Rowen and Wren • Copper Vase, £22, Rose and Grey • Rabanna Oblong Cushion, £90, Fermoie. 19

‘Eat Ski Love’ chalet chic cushions, £65 each, Barbara Coupe

Rocky Mountain Chalet chic Alpine adventures beckon with fun graphic colour pops, raw-edged textiles and ski resort motifs. By Kate Baxter

6. 1. Mountain cushion cover, $130 AU, Cumulus Living

2. Woodland Portable Wooden Trunk Chest, £275, Alexander & Pearl 3. Henrik patterned blue and white rag rug, from £45, Skandihome 4. Chico Floor Lamp, £150, Där Lighting

5. Liberty Mountain Fern paint, £39 for 2.5L, Colour and Paint 6. Rikki Tikki Just Retro Ceramic Pitcher, £26.95, Scandinavian Shop

10.

7. Mountain Cabin limited edition silkscreen print, £33, Mengsel 8. Woodland stool, £95, Alexander & Pearl 9. Set of 4 yellow mugs with lino print design, £22, Etsy UK 10. Mountain blanket, $395 AU, Cumulus Living 21

Heart Features

Family inspirations Words by Kelly Lavender

For Sophie Conran, interior design and cooking are far from just a hobby, they are a way of life.

With parents that have made their names in the world of food and interiors, it’s little wonder that these two things play such a big part of Sophie Conran’s day-to-day life too. Growing up, Sophie would spend time with her Dad, Terence, in his design studio and her mum, Caroline, in her kitchen and now as a mum and business woman herself she has turned her own passion for cooking and home interiors into her work with her eponymous homeware brand

This means that a typical working day for Sophie will consist of having breakfast with her husband and children, before driving to work for a 10am start. Meeting with her team to go through their to-do lists for the day is her first task and Sophie says that she loves the fact that every day is different. “There are always various product launches to plan, licensee partners to meet with, recipes to trial, blog posts to write. The day always go by so quickly, with so much going on.” 23

“There are so many exciting and diverse restaurants to go to in London, but we also cook at home too, for friends and family” Despite the hectic schedule, an important part of the day for Sophie and her team is lunchtime, when they all take a break together and catch up on non-work related things.

quite a bit,” Sophie comments. “There are so many exciting and diverse restaurants to go to in London, but we also cook at home too, for friends and family. My two ‘children’ (who are 18 and 21!) are living at home at the moment too and they also Work over and there’s often time for socialising love cooking and entertaining.” in the evenings too. “During the week we go out 25

The weekends are just as busy, although Sophie’s focus shifts from her business to renovating the family’s house in the country. “It’s a huge project which will probably take the rest of my life!”, she laughs. “There is always so much to do so we are kept busy either in the house or in the garden, but just being there and escaping from the city is really therapeutic.” “Quite often the whole family will come down for the weekend and we go on long walks, cook lunches and dinners and then settle in by the fire.” Sophie draws a great deal of inspiration from her mum when making her house into a home. She says: “My mum is very ethereal and inspirational in the way she applies technique and colour. My own home is comfortable, uplifting and homely. My kitchen has bold pink walls, with open shelving packed with all my kitchen tools. 26

“Quite often the whole family will come down for the weekend and we go on long walks, cook lunches and dinners and then settle in by the fire”

“My bedroom and home office have a softer palette of pastels that’s very calming, while my sitting room has lots of red and orange to create energy. I like to use colour to create the atmosphere most appropriate for the use of the room.” Growing up in a very busy household means that Sophie takes great joy from entertaining regularly at home and is used to having lots of people around. “It’s great to have get-togethers and spend time with friends and family. I love cooking and I also enjoy decorating the table and making beautiful floral centrepieces. I think good food is important, but it shouldn’t take over the evening. Pies are perfect for this! They are easy as you cook them before-hand. Love is the most important ingredient!”

“I love cooking and I also enjoy decorating the table and making beautiful floral centrepieces”

“I’m a keen cook and my favourite dish changes with the seasons. At the moment I am cooking lots with beans and pulses and root vegetables. They are my current favourites.” With such a love of entertaining and cooking, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Sophie’s favourite room in her home is the kitchen. “It is the heart of our home and is a very creative space. I spend most of my time in the kitchen, whether it be cooking, having friends over for coffee, eating with the family or just relaxing and reading a book.” When it comes to complete downtime though, Sophie admits she likes nothing better than enjoying a quiet night in with her husband, and indulging in a hot bath with delicious bath oils and candles. “I love sitting by the fire in a pair of cashmere tracksuit bottoms, hand-knitted socks and a big jumper!” www.sophieconran.com

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I spend most of my time in the kitchen, whether it be cooking, having friends over for coffee, eating with the family or just relaxing and reading a bookâ&#x20AC;?

New York State of Mind PHOTOGRAPHS by Seth Caplan WORDS: by Liggy Griffiths

Sheena Murphy lives in the ex-industrial part of Brooklyn, known as “DUMBO”. Her rented apartment exudes class, elegance and style, but keeps a sense of heritage. Here she tells Heart Home how she achieved it.

Heart Hom

mes

Heart Homes 31

“For us, it was about creating a comfortable, interesting home, which didn’t feel like a rented home” Sheena’s apartment is located in the DUMBO neighbourhood of Brooklyn, which she explains is “on the East River, nestled between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges”. “It used to be a manufacturing neighbourhood, with lots of warehouses which have now been converted into residences. The area is now home to lots of artists, designers and technology folk” she says. “It is approximately 650 square feet with one bedroom and a den (which essentially is a very small second bedroom with no windows!)”, she says modestly. “It was previously one of the warehouses in the area, which was renovated in 2010, so the bones were great and all modern conveniences had been installed by the time we moved in.” 32

Sheena has been renting the property for three years with her husband Paul and their Cavalier King Charles, William. It is effortlessly stylish and has all the charm and character of someone living there for twenty years. You would never guess it was rented, which is exactly what Sheena set out to achieve. “For us, it was about creating a comfortable, interesting home, which didn’t feel like a rented home, and one which satisfied the opposing styles of my husband and I!” she jests. “We also wanted to ensure that whatever we did, the view was still the star of the show. Not being from New York, the view is a very novel part of living where we do.”

“The biggest challenge was the shape of the living/dining area” Sheena goes on to tell me that she actually grew up in Hertfordshire; she left when she was 25 and spent the rest of her twenties globetrotting through Bangalore, London and Seattle before moving to New York. It was here she enrolled at Parsons The New School for Design to undertake a graduate degree in interior design. She now runs her own boutique interior design studio, Sheep + Stone, which launched in May last year. Looking at her apartment, there is no denying she has a great talent. Be it her training, her natural flair, or a combination of both- she has created a striking and incredibly handsome (rented!) home. She tells us how the apartment was “a white box with original exposed beams; it already had a

designed and installed kitchen and bathroom, so what I did was strictly decorative in scope.” Arguably however, she did a lot more than that! Her skills went well beyond soft furnishings and delved deeper into the realms of light, space and form. “The biggest challenge was the shape of the living/ dining area; it is a relatively long and narrow space with high ceilings. It was important to design the layout so we didn’t feel like we were living in a corridor! One of the most impactful things I did was hang curtains either side of the window. This not only added a layer of softness, but also created the illusion of a wider wall” says Sheena. 35

‘This whole room was quite a challenge as we needed to work around our large bed, which made it tricky to find free-standing furniture to fit.’ Sheena’s furniture and colour palette nestles beautifully into the industrial bone structure; it complements the rawness, but also makes it feel homely. Softer textiles are contrasted with utilitarian light fittings and angular furniture. The bold walls (with paint by Benjamin Moore) add drama and depth, but also inject warmth. “Don’t be afraid to mix and match materials!” says Sheena, freely giving up advice: “people are often nervous to use different metals and woods sideby-side, but doing this can provide interesting dimension and richness in a space.”

your home, such as your sofa or bed and pair these with flea market finds and more affordable items to create a collected, less contrived feel. This strategy also helps to manage the budget!”. Sheena not only understands interior design, but the purpose of it. Her studio was launched out of her desire to “create interiors that truly enhance the way people live, through thoughtful responsible design; space impacts our mood behaviours and experiences in so many more ways than those we are conscious of, so it’s important to get it right!”

Another top tip from Sheena: “Shop high and low; invest money in the larger, most-used pieces in sheepandstone.com 39

Style Steal

Heart Shopping

Get the look from Sheena's house

Duke Floor Lamp, EUR 3,170, Delightful • Serpentine Mirror, £202, Sweetpea and Willow • Oval Oak Salt and Pepper Containers, EUR 25, Designist • Madison Sideboard, £2,069, Darwin’s Home • Cool Lion Fine Art Print, £40, Rockett St George • Stockholm Pouffe, £200, Ikea • Cushion with Natural Leaf Design, £68, Nutmeg and Sage • Facet 02 Print, DKK 250, Stilleben • Grange Complete Bed, £1,095, Sweetpea and Willow • Cafe Bar Stool, £145, Not on the High Street • Acrobat Bench, £588.23, Clippings • Hildegarde Nickel Table Lamp, £473, 4Living. 41

Decorating with colour

By Ros Byam Shaw Photographs by Jan Baldwin As I was writing the section of the book entitled ‘Dark Drama’, it occurred to me that it was about time I took my own advice. We have a ‘small and badly-lit’ inner hall and it was painted white. Surely we were missing an opportunity by not painting it something deliciously dusky instead? As soon as I thought of it, I couldn’t wait. We got our hands on some ‘Mahogany’ Estate Eggshell the same weekend and set to work. And, just as I had promised, the result was exciting and theatrical. Anything placed against it took on a new vibrancy, whether the selfportrait our daughter painted for an art examination or the plaster relief that had been languishing unappreciated on a windowsill. The hall has a faint air of mystery, and it still gives me a thrill every time I walk through it. 42

This small inner hall is lit by a tiny window cut into an a back door and borrowed light from the kitchen, entran downstairs cloakroom, and drawing room that all lea

Several years ago, we changed the colour of the large entrance hall from ‘Fowler Pink’ to ‘Saxon Green’, which has now become an archive colour. The woodwork is ‘White Tie’, a creamy white that seems to suit the age of the house. Through the doorway, the matchboard panelling is ‘Mahogany’.

ancient nce hall, ad off it. 43

We inherited a scheme of blue and cream in this room, which we have repainted using ‘String’ and ‘Cook’s Blue’. The Aga dates back to the 1940’s.

Lining paper covered the wall at this end of the kitchen and the mottled remains of old layers of paint underneath were so pretty that we have left them. The matchboard panelling is painted in ‘String’. The fitted dresser is painted in ‘Mouse’s Back’. 45

The 16th-century fireplace in this bedroom had been blocked in when a later flue from a fireplace in the room below was cut through its back. The walls are â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Stringâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, a colour we have used extensively in the house, as it complements the local Beer stone of the fireplaces that are a feature of almost every room. 46

Extract from:Farrow & Ball Decorating with Colour by Ros Byam Shaw, photography by Jan Baldwin, published by Ryland Peters & Small. Available to Heart Home readers for the special price of ÂŁ28.00 including postage & packaging (rrp ÂŁ35.00) by telephoning Macmillan Direct on 01256 302 699 and quoting the reference GLR 8TJ.

The Country Fair Kitchen Collection, Sainsburys.

Escape to the sun Banish the winter blues by bringing the warmth of the Mediterranean into the kitchen with farmhouse appliances, chunky wood, terracotta and bright patterns. 1. 2.

5. 6.

1. Decorative Wooden Shelf, £100, Sweetpea and Willow. 2. Traditional Spanish Pimenton (paprika), £3.95, Alhambra Home & Garden.

10.

3. Emile Hendry Tagine in Rouge, from £59.90, Occa Home. 4. Terracotta Olive Oil Pourer, £8, Sainsburys. 5. Château 150, solid copper stove with polished copper trim, from £24,000, La Cornue.

6. Dinner Plates, £21.50 each, Boutique Provencal. 7. Vintage French Coffee Grinder, £38, Raspberry Mash. 8. Terracotta Tapas Bowl, £4.50, Tesco. 9. Fireclay Kitchen Sink with Drainboard, Kallista. 10. Handmade English tiles, The Winchester Tile Company.

Layered Pear Cake with Honey frosting By Giedre Augustinaviciute A perfect light, fruit filled sponge covered with snowy frosting that will make a sensational centrepiece at tea-time. The combination of pears and honey nestling in a light-as-air sponge will surprise the taste buds and make a welcome change from the usual fruitcake. 50

For the sponge 4 large eggs 120g caster sugar 40g soft light brown sugar 120ml buttermilk 120g clear honey 120ml vegetable oil 1 tsp lemon zest 280g plain flour 1 ½ tsp baking powder 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp salt

For the frosting 500g icing sugar 100g unsalted butter, softened 250g cream cheese 50g clear honey Ground cinnamon, for dusting (optional)

For the caramelised pears 3 pears 20g unsalted butter 60g clear honey 40g caster sugar

• Use four 20cm (8in) diameter • Using the electric whisk or loose-bottomed sandwich tins mixer, slowly mix the butter and icing sugar together • Preheat the oven to 170C/150C until no large lumps of butter fan/gas mark 3, and line the remain and the ingredients base of the sandwich tins with have a sandy consistency. Add baking paper. the cream cheese and honey • Cook the pears. Peel and and continue mixing on a low core the fruit and cut each speed until incorporated, then lengthways into about 12 slices. increase the speed to medium Place the remaining ingredients and beat the frosting until it is in a saucepan and melt together light and fluffy. over a low heat. Add the sliced • Once the sponges have cooled, pears and cook until the fruit place the first layer on a plate is soft and golden. Set aside to or cake card and top with cool while you make the sponge 3-4 tablespoons of the honey batter. frosting, smoothing it on with • Using a hand-held electric a palette knife and adding a whisk or a freestanding little more if needed. Continue electric mixer with the paddle this process, adding the second attachment, cream together the layer of sponge and topping eggs and both types of sugars with frosting. Repeat with the until light and fluffy. In a jug, third layer, then add the final stir together the buttermilk, sponge and frost the sides and honey, vegetable oil and lemon top of the cake, covering it zest. Pour this liquid mixture completely so that no sponge into the creamed ingredients can be seen. while mixing on low speed. • Lightly dust with ground • Sift together the remaining cinnamon if you like. ingredients, add to the creamed mixture and mix together on a medium speed to ensure everything is well incorporated. • Divide the cake batter evenly between the prepared cake tins. Top the batter with the cooked pears, allowing nine slices per cake and placing them in concentric circles, each slice spaced evenly apart. • Place in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until each sponge is golden brown on top and bounces back when lightly pressed. Allow the cakes to cool completely on a wire rack, before you frost them.

Eat, Drink, Enjoy By Ellie Walker-Arnott

Ask For Janice Long Lane

Gin fans won’t want to miss out on a trip to Ask For Janice. A new addition to the East End’s bar scene, the hotspot has nearly 50 gins on its menu, from Bathtub and Bloom, to Plymouth and Portobello Road. Each comes with suggestions for the perfect serve, whether that’s with cranberries and mint, strawberries and black pepper or a simple sprig of rosemary. There is no such thing as a standard G&T. Ask For Janice conforms to the usual East End style, with classic hipster hallmarks like exposed cement, rough brickwork, white tiles, reclaimed furniture, simple filament bulbs swinging from the ceiling and a graffiti-covered hidden bar in the basement, but that’s not to say it doesn’t have anything new to offer. It’s a vibrant bar with friendly service – and the pared-back, utilitarian feel ends with the décor. The menu is clever and creative, as well as flexible. You can share small plates or go for larger main dishes. Each option is plainly described and comes in simple enamel dishes, but the flavours, feel and presentation of the dishes is anything but basic. Seriously. Never has smoked salmon on rye bread or a grilled cheese sandwich tasted so good.

Go: If you love gin. Eat: Chicken crackling and Chatsworth Road Smokehouse salmon with caper berries and horseradish buttered rye. Pay: Around £7 per dish. 53

The Happenstance Ludgate Hill

Go: For a candlelit date or drinks after hours. Eat: Little London Meatballs. And anything with Pay: Around £10 for a main course In the shadow of St Pauls and a stone’s throw from the Thames, it’s no surprise that The Happenstance fills up quickly once offices start turning out in the evenings. The Happenstance is a lively eatery suited to all sorts of occasions. Post-work suit, jeans or sequined LBD – they are all welcome here. The place has an industrial look - chunky metal pipework and an open kitchen - but with an artsy vibe. The furniture is varied – plush booths, benches and elegant chairs – as are the chic light fittings, while each table is topped with fresh flowers. At the front, The Happenstance boasts a vibrant and busy bar with a young, laid back feel. It serves

Roman Fries.

a selection of clever cocktails (even skinny options for the calorie conscious) and it’s no surprise that some of them come in jam jars. One concoction even arrives in a vintage jar of golden syrup and another in a goldfish bag with a grapefruit ‘fish’ and edible lily pads. A little gimmicky, but fun and they taste pretty good too. Towards the back there is a quieter, more intimate space for dining. The menu is almost overwhelmingly extensive – pies, steaks, salads, sharing platters – and each of the dishes is presented in its own inventive way. Think enamel plates, tiny saucepans, mini casserole dishes and flower pots. Cute.

Go: For simple and stylish cuisine in a quiet corner of London. Eat: Lincolnshire Smoked Eel with potato pancakes and horseradish cream. Pay: Around £18 for a main course.

Eelbrook New King’s Road When the days are short and kind of dreary it’s important to get as much vitamin D as possible. And that’s where Eelbrook, in a pretty corner of west London, comes in. The bright, light, greenhouse of a restaurant lets the outside in and is also geared up for year-round al fresco dining if you are brave enough. Don’t worry, there are patio heaters. Sat on the edge of Eelbrook Common, the restaurant, designed by Haruo Morishima, is cool, clean and calm, with minimalist furniture and simple touches. It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner - all crafted from seasonal and locally sourced ingredients - so the menu is changeable. But you can be sure that it’ll be exciting. From eel to wood pigeon, hake and haricot beans to bavette and mushroom ketchup, the menu is surprising and the dishes themselves don’t disappoint. In my opinion every meal should be finished with the chocolate fondant with salted caramel and buttermilk ice cream. Heaven.

photograph by Jurgita Vaskel

Next Issue Out 5th February