Wonderful Shops.....

Merci-111 Boulevard Beaumarchais-Paris

Housed in a stunning historical building, this shop combines shopping, eating and design. A one stop destination for all that is important in life……

Merci was created in March 2009, in the heart of the historic Haut-Marais district. The founders, Bernard and Marie-France Cohen, realised that Paris lacked a place which brought together the best in fashion, design, household goods, and friendly eating options.

Merci's aim is to bring together, under one roof, products and customers who traditionally have not had the chance to meet such as vintage furniture or contemporary creations; emerging new fashion brands or already-recognised collections; impulse buys, affordable for all or much rarer pieces, sometimes in limited editions.

Merci calls this approach "The One and The Other" because we don't want to have to choose between traditional or modern, local or international, simple or costly, mass-produced or individually made, but to bring them all together, and present the best of each world.

Merci is a shop which works like a magazine. Over 15 exhibitions/events around a selection, and an original theatrical design in harmony with the year, have transformed the place into a "store-destination". The exhibitions' themes put over the Merci point of view on a trend, a change in society, the work of a designer or an irresistible take on a project.

www.merci-merci.com

Enjoy

Sara x

Merci-Shopping in Paris

Wonderful Shops To See.....Merci

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

Interesting Extras!

Hunted and Stuffed Cushions

I found this company at a trade show in London, I think their products are great fun and I really appreciate the fact that they make something new and contemporary from found and recycled items. These striking home accessories are a complete move away from the mass-produced items found in the high street, which as always is true to my heart.

 

Hunted and Stuffed specialise in sourcing origional vintage textiles and upcycling them into beautiful new creations for the home. All pieces are one of a kind or only a small quantity is produced, everything is made in the UK, using British materials where possible. Bespoke work is produced foe retail customers, celebrity and commercial clients...

 

 Owner Ellie Laycock’s forthcoming book ‘Creating The Vintage Look’ (Cico Books) is a guide to upcycling vintage pieces to create your own unique decorative and functional objects for the home and will be published internationally in September 2013.

 

http://www.huntedandstuffed.com

http://www.pinterest.com/sarabrowndesign/cushions-curtains-and-extras

Till next time!

Sara x

Hunted And Stuffed Cushions

Wonderful Design Studios

KRISTJANA S WILLIAMS Studio ​

I love detailed drawings and illustrations and one of my favourites is Kristjana S Williams. The colours and images are stunning and unique.

Kristjana S Williams creates magical landscapes, filled with impossible, exotic creatures by interweaving fragments of Victorian engravings with contemporary illustration and colouring. Icelandic born and a graduate of Central St Martin’s, Williams’ illustration work spans the worlds of fashion, homeware and prints and has gained widespread critical acclaim.

​Kristjana’s recent work includes large scale mural displays at the V&A for the London Design Festival, a solo exhibition “Dyragardurin” at Outline Editions’ temporary gallery in Soho, a collaboration with heritage furniture maker George Smith and wallpaper designer Cole & Son, and commissions for the Chanel Group and Paul Smith amongst others. She is a regular exhibitor at Outline Editions who showcase and sell her work through exhibitions. Outline Editions launched an exclusive collection of prints by for her solo show “Anachroquarianism” at Shapero Rare Books in 2012.

http://www.kristjanaswilliams.com

 

George Smith Furniture

I have posted some of her wonderful images and also have a selection of images in http://pintereset.com/sarabrowndesign/botanical-drawings-and-prints

 Sara X

                                         Available at Paul Smith