Style With Bonacina.

Years back Pierantonio Bonacina was introduced to me. I was working in Portugal and this rep came along to show me a beautiful catalogue with Bonacina furniture - Love first sight. In one word I say ELEGANCE.
It’s a very difficult brand to sell: not everyone understands it I guess, but it’s the right design if you’re looking for that spatial jewellery, if I may call it this way.

It’s a brand for contract I would say. Hotels by the beach are indeed the perfect scenario. It’s a very delicate design with a strong personality. See it for yourself, and share your thoughts.

Of course, colours and textures are always very important to define the style. Lately I’ve been thinking red and blue: dark red and dark turquoise to be more precise.

Bonacina designs are quite unique. I really see it like a piece of jewellery you wear for a special occasion.

This time I thought it would be more interesting to style the concept with “people” to express how and where exactly I see this furniture, colours and textures surrounded with.



Yes, tulle! What can I do? I love tulle. It’s so charming!

This chair is perfect for a balcony.

Imagine this long chair in a terrace facing the sea: how beautiful shades would they design on the surroundings?



More Inspirations.
Inspired by Blue and Gold
Pink Is The New Black
Inspired by Light Installations
Inspired by Paris
Welcome to Autumn

Inspired by Casino Royale.

I am a movie lover. To spend an evening watching it (sometimes for the 5th time rewinding my favorite moments) relaxes me, inspires me and teaches me a lot. Sometimes I don’t watch movies just because they’re great stories but because they’ve the best scenarios.

I remember when I was a kid and James Bond was the Sunday afternoon movie (still is actually), I would stare the TV screen making sure I wouldn’t miss one single moment. At the time I didn’t like the most famous secret agent in the world: it was too much fantasy for my own reality, BUT I just couldn’t miss all those beautiful, chic and ultra modern spaces.

Get inspired with the elegance always outstanding is every James Bond movie.

The richness of colours and textures are simply breathtaking.

This is the type of scenario where Roda furniture fits in perfectly.



This is one of my favorite views – love the way space and scale are so beautifully placed. In this image you can feel the textures, colours and light: all perfect.

M’s house: an intellectual, avant garde women whose house is a perfect balance between modern icons and Art Deco touches.

A little moment in the Bahamas which colonial architecture is a statement in a British movie.

Cars, don’t we all love cars?



This image is so powerful, so much details in an almost monochrome background. But the curved line makes it distinct from other pictures.


Little side note: Casino Royale was written after Ian Fleming visit (an enjoyed) the Estoril Casino in Portugal. Back then it was one of the most well known Casinos in Europe.

All the pictures were printed directly from the movie, which I own.

It's Official: Milan Next Week, New York In Two Months!

Just a quick line here to let you all know next week I’m going to the most wanted furniture fair in the world: Salone Internazionale Del Mobile 2010 - Milan.

I’ll do my best to blog from there and of course to provide good pictures of the latest designs and trends, but if not possible I’ll do it on my return.


So, the first is a business trip (but a very very wanted one). The second trip is indeed holidays.

For 4 years I’ve been dreaming with The City That Never Sleeps. Finally I’ve booked my flight. Beginning of June I’m flying to New York New York for 8 days. I’ve so much to see and so much to share.

Any tips are welcomed. Don’t be shy, just drop them in.

Levi’s Rocks Since 1873.

My first pair of jeans was Levi’s. Loved them so badly I would wash them over the weekend to make sure I would have them back on Monday morning to go to school. At the time I was in high school and you know how important it is to have the right pair of jeans.

The following favorite pair of jeans was second hand and skinny cut. They were beautiful, super stylish, though 501 was the trend. I had them completely ripped up (and again trendy) … and so on and on. I had so many. And I still have. After all these years, and of course other jeans I’ve bought, there’s nothing like my Levi’s jeans, they are made for me. Oh, and of course, I’ve a bag and a backpack, belts, t-shirts, a gorgeous dress, etc, etc, etc. When I wear Levi’s I feel a rock ‘n roll chick. Love it.


But what I want to share here is not my Levi’s experience but the pop up gallery they have in Regent Street, London. I call it pop up gallery but I’m not sure if it’s a permanent space where they’re going to feature regularly art and design. Better is to keep an eye on it for further developments.

If you didn’t have the opportunity to pop in, click here to have a grasp. It’s entitled “Meet the craftworkers” – an exhibition of London’s craft workers telling their own story in the creative and artistic world. Get inspired. Be brave to follow your dreams.

This Craftworker is my favorite: “Re-inventing herself from an investment banker to a musician, Anne takes her inspiration from the energy and creativity that surrounds her”.



“Craft is individual and instinctive, something that is learned, lived, and mastered.
Levi’s® introduces 18 of London’s Craftworkers, each with their own unique story.”

RODA – Love First Sight.

Maybe because Spring just started (apart in Great Britain) everyone has been looking for garden furniture, including myself though I don’t have a garden.

I was introduced to this beautiful Italian brand – RODA – designed by Rodolfo Dordoni a couple of months ago. It was love first sight. It’s amazing the way he mixes materials without losing beauty and elegance. You can tell RODA breaths Italian charm.


I look at this images and I feel an eclectic vibe, though very unique. Well, in the end of the day what makes eclectic style special is its uniqueness, isn’t it?


Colours and textures are rich, materials unpredictable and forms very balanced – it is indeed a brand to keep an eye on. I will update you after the Milan fair, which will happen this month. I’m so looking forward to visiting it.


RODA doesn’t have only beautiful furniture, but they have the best catalogues ever. Everything is set in the right space, with the right light. You flick through it and the only think in your mind is yourself seating there having a nice gather with family and friends tasting the best wine in a late sunny afternoon.


This furniture, or maybe the catalogues, reminds me James Bond’s Casino Royale movie.

If you’re in the UK, you can find RODA at EDC, London.

Other articles about Rodolfo Dordoni’s design.
The Devil Seats On Minotti
Minotti @ imm Cologne in Germany

Anthropologie – London.

First time I heard about this American shop was in the blogosphere. Sadly, at the time it didn’t exist in London and my plans to go to the US were very vague.

Last October a huge Anthropologie opened in Regent Street. Every time I have a moment to indulge myself with cute things and good memories, I definitely pop in.

These tiles were just a trend in Portugal – colours and patterns. My aunty had similar ones in her Kitchen.

This shop is perfect if you’re looking for that little eclectic detail, a special gift, or even if only looking for inspiration.

This space reminds my grandmother’s kitchen. I used to play in there.

Love this spot - the tiles, the off centre display and the colours are just perfect.

Love the vertical garden. Its 200 sq meters ‘Living Wall’ contain 14 different plat types.






This is the only shop in Europe, so if you’re planning to come to London, don’t miss it.
I would love to see this shop in Lisbon more precisely in Bairro Alto. It would be a success.

Swivel It - Play With It.

If I need to detail the house of my dreams, it will have for sure swivel doors.
I like the idea that they’re fixed (in a vertical axis), but at the same time very playful - you can avoid shadows or allow them in the space and if they’re like these ones, in white lacquer, you can use the shinny surface to mirror the light in (or out).

I like the way the building outside is mirrored on these doors. Again, the space becomes engaging and alive. A simple surface is a vehicle of playfulness in a space.

These ones I’ve photographed today in the Minotti London showroom are in white shinny lacquer both sides, but if in two different colours you can make the space even more engaging and playful.

It’s the simplicity in design that always catches my eye. Simple backgrounds like these doors / blinds are perfect to style the space with eclectic objects we buy, others inherited and bold colours to give a trendy touch.

SANAA's 2010 Laureates Of The Pritzker Architecture Prize.

Japanese architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA
have been chosen as the 2010 Laureates of the Pritzker Architecture Prize . I couldn’t be happier with it.

Their work is truly simple, spaces flow within and above all their design respects the surroundings, and that’s one of the things I most respect in architecture (when achieved).

The following images were download from Dezeen . Click here to see more articles about the winners.

Interiors from the book SANAA Houses about the cult Japanese architectural practice.

Store for fashion designer Derek Lam in New York (one on my list to visit in NYC).

Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, London 2009.

Museum of Contemporary Art in New York, which I hope I’m going to visit in September.

Installation at the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion in Barcelona.

Reading Is A Very Personal Thing.

Last Tuesday I went to The School of Life in London to attend this course on “How To Read” by Cathy Haynes .

When I first read about the course’s content I thought “maybe I’ll find answers for my endless questions about ‘technicality of reading’ or ‘am I reading as I suppose to?’ or ‘how can I read faster?’ and another one that really bothers me ‘am I getting the message in here?’…

It was a three hour course where we discussed the benefits of reading, dangers of reading and what to read next. We’ve touched social anxiety, which I believe we all suffer from: the ‘classics’ you have to read otherwise you’re tagged “illiterate” and the books we discuss but never read (loved this one); and we did very interesting tasks like “map your own reading history – and you’ll find out you went through different joys and woes, sources of encouragement, obstacles to pleasure and aspirations for future”.

In the end of the day, what I actually learned was that everyone is different; there are no rules on how we should or not do things. If you want to read a story fragment, read; if you want to read the same book every summer, just do it; and if your conclusion is different from your gig friend; let it be – reading is a very personal thing. Let it grow on you. Enjoy the process.

Every time I buy a new book I write location and year followed by my expectations on that book (because we all judge a book by its cover). And when I finish it I write what I got from it – it’s amazing how different my comments are. And more interesting is when you flick through a couple of years later.
Mark books, underline little details that make a difference to you, write comments or thoughts, draw and add lose pages you grab from different medias – make your reading a hobby not a duty.


I’ve given away many things in my life: bags, shoes, jackets, coffee machines, furniture I’ve designed, jewellery but never books. I’ve boxes and boxes in Portugal waiting to be shipped, but I could never give them away. Why is that?

Growing Up In The Blog World.

Since I started blogging, August 2009, I ask myself what I really want from & with it.

In the beginning it was to promote my portfolio as a designer and after a while I thought I had too many photographs from other designers, architects and artists’ work worth to post and talk about. Moreover I could as well exhibit my photography (therefore make it better) and express how these professionals inspire my work and aspirations.

Last week I read an article about a great designer on T Blog by New York Times that I wish I had written and photographed. Until that moment my philosophy was to contribute with something new to the blogosphere, even if only photographs. But then I thought "I didn’t write or phtograph it, but I have to share it - it’s too good not to". So I did (and I’m happy with my decision).

And this week, while I was digging on TED , my ‘pillow talks’, I thought again "too good not to share - they’re not about me, I didn’t write or photograph them, but they follow my blog’s subject: these talks are about design and somehow about spaces too". So, once again, I did: I’ve posted two fantastic talks by Stefan Sagmeister and Jacek Utko, and I look forward to posting & sharing many more.

Well, all this to say that I’m trying not to be too stubborn with my approach on how to blog. I take this little side project very seriously - I learn, I share and I team: three things I truly love to do. Maybe that’s why I’m so precious with what I’m blogging about. But then again, to change opinions is synonymous to growing up, isn't it?

I hope you enjoy my editing skills.

Looking forward to hearing from you.