Wonderful Shops…

A Shopping Oasis located in Santa Maria del Cami in Mallorca

In 2015 a Majorca Townhouse from the 1700s was turned into a concept shop and bistro called LIVING DREAMS. This wonderfully restored building houses a shop: stocking furniture, accessories, design and art from around the world, a bistro, vinoteca, lounge and event venue for private parties.

 Living Dreams was founded in Switzerland in 2002 by Nicole Hoch when she discovered the beauty and craftsmanship of furniture from Asia. Their production includes custom-made dining tables, chairs and lounge furniture in solid wood, all of which are also available with a burnt finish, weatherproof garden lamps as well as numerous, beautiful decorative items for your home and outdoor spaces.  Living Dreams specialize mainly in large tables and lounge/outdoor furniture and can also produce bespoke furniture made to measure.

The in-house bar Bistro 19 is wonderful for relaxing and stocks an extensive selection of wines and a varied menu of Mediterranean fusion cuisine with emphasis on market-fresh products. The stunning indoor and outdoor areas can be hired for private events.

I love the unique mix of products, well planned, stylish room layouts and great use of the outdoor space. The location is pretty and worth making a special trip to view. I have posted a selection of images but these don’t really do justice to this beautiful store.

Contact details:

Plaza Hostals 19

Santa Maria de Cami, Mallorca

 www.livingdreams.es

Wonderful Shops

One of my favourite shops for luxury and great design is Liberty, in Regent Street in London. Probably one of the best loved and recognizable department stores in the world

Founded in 1875 by Arthur Lazenby Liberty, it originally sold imported goods from the Far East. As the son of a draper, following in his father’s footsteps he was an apprentice to a draper at 16, going on to work at the Great Cloak and Shawl Emporium on Regent Street. Arthur Lazenby Liberty was to become the manager of the Oriental warehouse, a mecca for pre-Raphaelite artists. He had a passion for the products he sold and soon become a friend of many leading artists of the time; William Morris, Edward Burne Jones and Dante Rossetti. After 10 years he asked to become a partner in the business, when this was refused he set up on his own, using a loan from his father.

This became known as the East India House, originally dealing with fabrics and silks from China, Japan, India and Persia, gradually more goods were added such as ceramics, Japanese fans and object d’ art. This was at the height of the aesthetic movement and along with his friend’s, he was to change the taste of fashion and decoration. His early passion for eastern arts and the desire to educate, keen eye for style and astute business brain made Liberty a leading retail tastemaker at the time.

A sociable man, he moved in artistic circles as well as making influential friends amongst the wealthy. He started using British manufacturers to print fabrics, and Liberty prints are still popular today. Where possible he tried to promote British Craftsmanship.

 In 1870, Liberty and Co, as it was now known, underwent rapid expansion and purchased 140-150 Regent Street. In the 1890s Arthur Lasenby Liberty built strong relationships with many leading English designers. Many of these designers were key figures in the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau movements and Arthur Liberty was instrumental in the development of Art Nouveau through his encouragement of such designers.

Arthur Lazenby Liberty’s intuitive vision and pioneering spirit led him to travel the world looking for individual pieces to inspire and excite his discerning clientele. Liberty is not just a name above the door, its Arthur Liberty’s legacy, which stands for integrity, value, quality and above all beautifully designed product. This vision and spirit continues today within the same iconic Tudor building.

 

Sara x

Welbeck Tiles- Made in Britain

I love companies that support British craftsmanship and create bespoke products. Welbeck Tiles produce some of the most beautiful tiles that I have ever seen and make a real design statement in your home, whilst offering a truly personal service to all their clients.

This small-scale, batch production gives the tiles a truly unique quality which could never be replicated in mass-production.  All the tiles are made to an extremely high standard using a very labour-intensive techniques and only the best English materials are used, sourced from suppliers who too take great pride in their products.

Designed and made in a small workshop in Cornwall, using traditional techniques that have been in use in the pottery industry for more than a century, Brenda Bates, the MD and chief designer has a real passion for creating beautiful tiles.

Brenda has been involved in ceramic design and manufacture for over 25 years. After gaining an MA in Ceramic Design from Staffordshire University in Stoke-on-Trent, she went on to work in the ceramic tableware industry for a brief spell. Quickly realizing that this would be far too restrictive, as the industry was then very conservative in terms of decoration, she started her own company in 1988, producing china dinner services and giftware.

An extremely successful number of years followed, designing ranges for some of the world’s most prestigious department stores in the world, such as Bergdorf Goodman in New York as well as various London-based companies including the David Linley Furniture Company, Renwick & Clarke and the Irish Georgian Society. She also worked on numerous exclusive private commissions for some of the most highly-regarded names in Europe.

 In 1996, Welbeck Tiles was formed and with its innovative designs quickly grew to supply over 100 tile retailers throughout the country. They now only sell directly by mail-order and through a selected network of the best handmade kitchen companies in the UK. A lovely range of ceramic brooches and mugs is also available to buy online.

 

For more information and to view their stunning range; www.welbeck.com

 All the best

Sara X

Wonderful Shops

Anthropologie offers a one-of-a-kind and compelling shopping experience that makes you feel beautiful, hopeful and connected. I love the wonderful mix of products as well as the support they give to artists and craftspeople and the fact they champion smaller labels. The window and store displays are also the best around for imagination and impact, and many other companies follow their lead, and try and recreate the same style

The first store was opened in 1992 in Wayne, Pennsylvania and the company now has 175 stores in USA, Canada and has now opened in the UK.  However it has retained its innovation, artfulness and good design despite the size of the company. Each store has character, and the unusual mix of clothing, accessories and home is many ways curated rather than bought.

 Although you enjoy the clever details and fine craftsmanship of our products, you come to us come to escape and to connect, to spend time and to make time.

www.anthropologie.com

I have included some lovely images for you to drool over….

Sara x