Home Journal July 2021

I’ve always been an exacting restaurant-goer – not that I quibble over food, or the décor or the furnishings, rather what obsesses me is the je ne sais quoi that gets you to stay longer and keeps you coming back for more. It could be a blunt barista who isn’t shy to admit the coffee he sells is overpriced; a bartender who remembers your favourite drink; acoustics that strike a chord, or even a magazine on the rack that is enjoyable to read. Places that tick all boxes offer a holistic experience that makes you feel rejuvenated, safe and joyful every time you walk through the doors. While much in our daily lives still comes trapped in traditional concepts of form and function, some people are helping us break free from such…

GO WITH THE FLOW Inspired by water and its fluid nature, Natuzzi’s new Deep collection boasts voluptuous lines that are reminiscent of the ebb and flow of the tide. The sofa, which comes in a variety of shapes and depths, is designed to fit harmoniously and convey a constant sense of calm and balance. natuzzi.com WINDING BACK As the first exhibition at Kwai Fung Hin Art Gallery in Tai Kwun, “The Cornerstone”, available from now until the end of August, will showcase a selection of 15 masterpieces from the likes of Marcel Mouly, Georges Mathieu, Zao Wou Ki and Lalan, each work representing different dimensions of the reputed gallery’s 30 years of development. kwaifunghin.com LEATHER UP Deck your wall with Studioart’s 2021 Leatherwall Collections, available at Altfield Interiors. Its bespoke designs of flat, padded tiles…

Sometimes we need to look back to move forward. Perhaps this is why the retro look – a decorative style that broadly encompassed design aesthetics from the 1950s to the 1970s – has stood the test of time, and still constantly finds its way into today’s homes. To incorporate a sense of retro glamour to your home, think art deco colour palettes such as pale pink, yellowed brown or sage, and mix them with bold patterns and funky finishes that never goes out of fashion. FOR MORE PRODUCTS AND IDEAS, VISIT HOMEJOURNAL.COM AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @HOMEJOURNAL…

The search for the right building took nine long years, but finally the NoMad London is open in the historic Grade II-listed building known as The Bow Street Magistrates’ Court and Police Station. One of the most famous magistrates courts in the world, it played a part in some of history’s most notorious and high-profile cases. The transformation of this storied 19th-century building draws inspiration from its history and location. Its dock witnessed the trial of the likes of Lothario Giacomo Casanova, Emmeline Pankhurst and Dr Crippen. Dame Vivienne Westwood was a guest in one of the cells for breaching the peace in 1977; while former politician Jeffrey Archer was found guilty in 2001 on two counts of perverting the course of justice and two of perjury, and sentenced to four…

There weren’t too many of them in Russia – yet. Spaces filled with curated items, hand-picked and set in place with intention: a book, a vase, a framed print, a cardigan tossed on a bench. No object or its placement is random in places like this, however carelessly plopped on a table or draped across an armchair. Design concept stores, gallery-like in their curation and ambience, are a favourite of Natalia Maslova. She has her go-to’s in London, where her interior design studio 3L Decor is partially based, her time split between there and Moscow. She also has her picks from her travels, and she wanted to find similar options back in Russia. So she created one herself. The 3L Store debuted this spring, not far from the Leo Tolstoy State Museum. “I…

Denise Lau was only a child when she knew she would one day join the family business. Founded in 1970 by William W. Lau, the B.S.C. Group is one of the city’s leading contractors of interior furnishings and suppliers of building materials – counting hotels such as the Mandarin Oriental, the Ritz-Carlton, and Rosewood; residences, including the Austin and the Hermitage; and iconic landmarks such as Prince’s Building, the Landmark, and more recently, K11 MUSEA among its projects. After studying at the London School of Economics, and Cass Business School, the younger Lau first went into corporate banking, then found her way to the company her father built. But she was there to build something new, too. Heading the company’s distribution arm, Lau expanded the family’s business from supplying developers with materials…