An eye for Warhol

The Art Series Hotel group have done it again. First there was the Steal Banksy campaign, now they’ve commissioned the world’s greatest art forger, Tony Tetro to come up with nine replica Warhols which will divide their time hanging on the walls of The Cullen, The Blackman and The Olsen. The trick is, to decipher which Warhol is Warhol’s? In amongst the nine fakes, one is the real deal. Each week one of the Tetro fakeys will be given away to a past guessing guest and as the weeks go by, the real Warhol will be revealed. The unveiling of all 10 pieces of art will go down 15 May at The Olsen, followed by a panel discussion on where fakes fit in the world of art. You guys really are the coolest hoteliers on the market.

To find out more, head to www.artserieshotels.com.au/whichwarhol

Sexy and I know it

The heart skipped a few beats upon spying this piece of amazingness on The Cool Hunting website. Baths and chairs, two of my major weaknesses, combined into one. Shown off at Salone del Mobile in Milan last week, the bathtub designed by Dutchman, Thomas Linseen from Studio Thol, certainly made an impression. Ready to go into production now, this beautiful, handmade piece of art will set you back €12,000. 

The Bathtub, €12,000. Studio Thol

Images via The Cool Hunting

Jean Paul loves the fizz

Jean Paul Gaultier likes to keep us guessing and his latest collab with Diet Coke has me thinking, why haven’t we seen more of this play on the FMCG aesthetic.  I suppose San Pellegrino played with Missoni and Bulgari, Absolut and Dom Perignon had a turn with Andy but I’m all for seeing more.  The ‘dressed up’ Night and Day, his and hers, bottles are limited edition and only available in Europe.  So Frenchy, so chic.

I’m a chair, I swear!

While the Milano Salone Internazionale del Mobile charges full steam ahead, the chairs on display have had the mind boggling. Clever Belgian designer Maarten De Ceulaer has designed a range of colourful foamy spheres, melded together to form a chair. From compact to long, to four legs and a back, the “Mutation” chair series ‘kinda grows on you. Beanbags for the design conscious.

Images via Dezeen

Kanye West hearts Giuseppe Zanotti

High heels…Colette…two more subjects which get the heart racing. And, when Kanye West and Giuseppe Zanotti start sharing the love, well then we’ve got a 4-way love fest. Unveiled at Paris Fashion Week and recently seen on the buffed and polished soles of Kim Kardashian and Jourdan Dunn, these calf leather and pearl embellished stilettos are simply stunning. Style booties.

€4,420. Colette, 213 rue Saint-Honoré, 1^st Arrondissement , Paris. www.colette.fr

W-W-Wow @ W Paris – Opéra

A city and subject close to my heart, the W Paris – Opéra hotel has opened its Hausmann-era’esque doors, marking the W brand’s first foray into France. With 91 guestrooms, including 20 suites and 3 Extreme WOW suites (think about as magnifique as you can get) plus a Spanish influenced restaurant headed by Michelin-starred chef Sergi Arola, the W Paris – Opéra is the hottest hotel to hit the cobblestones since the Mandarin Oriental Paris. Viva la France!
W Paris-Opéra, 4 rue Meyerbeer, 9^th Arrondissement, Paris. www.wparisopera.com

Pug luvin’

Just wanted to show off my new baby, Billy. A little different from the norm, but a dabble in Monday cuteness never went astray…

Champagne showers

A brand after my own heart! Possibly two of the greatest indulgences – rain showers and Champagne – have come together for one almighty raindance. From Italian spa brand Visentin, the 16:9 Flutes Series showerhead is a piece of functional art, right atop your bath. Made from 39 porcelain-like flutes, all that’s left to do is sing Champagne showers, Champagne showers.

Visit Visentin for more.

Images via luxury-insider

My friend Bernie

After five or more years studying interior design, working for cool magazines and doing cool things, my friend Bernie has unleashed her website and my does it look marvellous. With a knack of getting it right and a hot portfolio to boot, anyone looking for design inspiration or someone to zoosh their abode should give Bernie a holla. Totally in love the graphics (by Diya Dasgupta). 

Bernadette Bellwood, www.bellwood.net.au

Calling all crims’

My favourite hotel group, Art Series Hotels have concocted a game of hide and seek, with a reward sweeter than a bunch of screaming toddlers. A $15,000 Banksy masterpiece will do the rounds of The Cullen, The Olsen and The Blackman and the first person to ‘Steal Banksy’ and get their hands on the signed ‘No Ball Games’ print will get to take it home. Yes, too big to fit in a suitcase.

Check-in to Art Series Hotels throughout Melbourne.

Image via Art Series Hotels

Travel with TASCHEN

Louis Vuitton, Wallpaper, LUXE, Taschen – common thread? Guidebooks. Guidebooks that are too cool to pack in a suitcase, let alone stuff into carry-on. If you don’t mind your guidebooks a little tatty around the edges, publishing supremo Taschen have recently unveiled 4 cities – their entire tome of travel guides. London, Paris, New York and Berlin get a look-in. Hotels, restaurants, shops x 4. My order of travel preference… Berlin, New York, Paris, London.

Purchase via Amazon £34.99  

Images via Amazon

Bird gone wild

Love getting my monthly dose of Habitus magazine and just loved reading up about The Aviary in Perth. Kinda reminds me of my very first post on Le Bain at The Standard in New York, while the colours remind me of Clancy’s Fish Bar, also in Perth. Designed by HASSELL in collab with Habitat One, this split level restaurant-cum-bar-cum-rooftop paradise is set to be one of the hippest hangouts in town.  Bird lovers are going to love this place!

The Aviary, Lvl 1, 140 William Street, Perth, WA; +61 8 9226 0259; www.theaviaryperth.com.au

Images via Habitus

Oliver Peoples do it better

Don’t you sometimes wish you just had to wear Oliver Peoples for TAKAHIROMIYASHITATheSoloIst frames? The LA cool kat eyewear specialists have teamed up with The SoloIst clothing chain to produce a small handful of these cutesy-cool glasses for the slightly impaired. Pleased to see they also come in sunglass, Ray-Ban’esque style. 

The SoloIst Capsule Collection will only be released to the Asian market and to select stores in the US. www.oliverpeoples.com

Images via Hyperbeast & Oliver Peoples

Koons n’ Kiehls

Just in time for 25 December, the perfect, feel good Christmas stocking filler has been unveiled. Revisiting last year’s collab between the skincare giant (Kiehls) and quirky contemporary artist, Jeff Koons, this year’s Creme de Corps collection bares Koons’ Balloon Flower design. Profits go to the Koons Family Institute on International Law and Policy and to help combat child exploitation. Design aesthetic aside, can’t go past a good cause.

Purchase online at Kiehls from US$29.

Image via Selectism

A fashionable workout

Who said pumping iron had to be all sweat, no style? These DemonBelle dumbbells are sure to pimp out any gym session and make working those triceps all the more pleasurable. Designed by an ex-NAVY seal, ergonomics and all the smarts of what one would look for in a dumbbell have been well thought out. Orders are being taken online now – but you’re going to have to be quick. Limited edition, baby. Is this not the perfect paperweight?

Demonbells – art in motion. Purchase now, from US$79.99

Images via luxury-insider