Luxury living

The company I work for held an exclusive launch event earlier this week in the third tallest building in Johannesburg, The Michelangelo Towers Hotel.
We had booked the three top floors - The Observation Suite - up in 160 meters and with gorgeous views all over Johannesburg.

I naturally made my own observations about the decor. It sure was pretty.

A place like this is somewhat over my personal price range for a night in a hotel, but I thought I show you what you get if money isn't the issue. Apparently the latest celebrity to stay there was Jane Seymore.



This table was beautiful, so you get a close up as well.



The early morning sun made the curtains look magical.



Looks like a holiday to me.





















You don't need a cold shower with these views to wake you up!

Rooms and more rooms

Rooms were on view in Sandton Convention Centre last weekend. The exhibition was quite small, bu it did have some interesting decors. My favorite room was the one on these two first photos, put together by a company called White on White. I like the different shades of green colors used, they are very muted but managed to look very fresh. The photos don't quite manage to capture that unfortunately.



These brass framed mirrors looked really nice against the black and white wallpaper.



If you want travel in style, there's nothing like vintage looking travel trunks such as these. Very old fashioned and very chic.



When in Africa, you cannot avoid all things beaded. This is a large bean bag entirely beaded. The patience some people have! But it was truly awesome.

My South African love affair

Gorgeous, don't you think?

Below zero

It is, if not winter, a very late autumn in Johannesburg. It's been freezing this week with temperatures below zero some mornings. Being Finn people say that I should be used to these kind of temperatures. The thing is that in Finland houses are build to take the cold - there is proper insulation and heating is standard thing in every house. I don't think one gets used to cold but in some places you are just better equipped to take it.

I prefer the warmer temperatures but we certainly have had it pretty this week.

On the hot spot

One of my favorite design stores back home, Skanno, has rolled our their summer range, garden furniture and the likes. I particularly like this one, called a Hot Spot. Comes also in natural wicker color. The shape reminds me of the traditional mexican chimnea.

Allowance 20 kg

I'm 5945 miles or 9568 km away from home, travelling with the typical air line limitation of allowed luggage. And what do I do? I buy books. Heavy books. One of them is pictured here.



I know that Amazon would probably deliver the same to my door, but sometimes there is just no reasoning like that. You see, then the books would not remind me of my time in South Africa. I would not have a story to tell.

I admit I also found some wonderful pillow covers I could not resist. They would not sell the pillow covers separately, so I needed to get the actual pillows inside as well. But those I will leave behind. You have to draw the line somewhere, right?

Chocolate Spa looking for home

This oil painting by Bruno Maximus is called Chocolate Spa. This and over 3000 other pieces of art - paintings, graphics, photographs, sculptures - are looking for a loving and caring homes.

The art society of Helsinki in Finland are making it easy for people to get to know and buy art. For a monthly fee, from 10 to 200 euros depending on the price of the piece, you can borrow the one you like. If you don't like the way it looks at your home, you can simply return it when ever you want, but in case you would like to keep it, you just keep on paying the monthly instalments (mind you, interest free) and when it's all paid - voilà, the artwork is yours. Naturally you can pay everything up front too.

They really have something for any one's taste. For graphic lovers, how about this one by Anita Jensen. It's called Nature in the Eye of the Beholder. It's yours for 440 euros or 20 euros a month.



Or how about this one, Thought of Morocco by Kirsi Länsitie for 1500 euros or 50 euros a month. She has used oil, mosaics and pearls in her piece.



For a more sculptural look, maybe this one in concrete tickles your fancy. It's made by Virpi Kanto and it's called Flake.



Within the 3000 pieces you are bound to find something you like. The ones shown here are just a few examples from the vast colletion they have. You can have a closer look at the variety in here.
When I'm back home, I'm definately paying them (yet another) visit. It's nice to go where people know you.

Art Deco comeback

Mind my words - the next new found trend in interior design will be art deco.

This period styles truly deserves a come back too. Art deco furniture go oh so well with the modern contemporary design and add that little bit of something something to almost any decor.

If you would like to live it before everyone else does, check out Decodame for some gorgeous pieces. They are in Florida (where else) but say they ship around the world. Bear in mind that those marble table tops are very, very heavy...

Or maybe you would like to design your own? McNamee studios offer you that option. I adore this side table of theirs.



Or if you, like me, enjoy antique shops and auctions, there are some great finds out there. Imagine getting ready in front of this table. With a view to the Chrysler Building. Or is that too much to ask?

Rooms on view

Rooms are on view in Sandton convention centre in Johannesburg in couple of weeks time. How lucky am I to be here just now?

"Rooms on View offers exclusive insight into the status of South African décor and design. It is South Africa's foremost decorating show and is firmly established as the benchmark by which the South African décor industry is measured, both at home and abroad, and it has joined the ranks of other international décor fairs as a fixture in the diaries of decorators, buyers and tastemakers, the world over."

Now that's what the website says. And the photos from last years show look rather nice. I will be busy that weekend!