Tuesday, 22 February 2011

Arabian Nights



There is something alluring about North African lands. It could perhaps be the spicy aroma wafting through a Souk or the glistening ornaments that drag in our wandering eyes and enchant our the contents of our poor purses into the hands of another. Or is it the innately hypnotic, kohl lined eyes darting about the place amongst exquisitely ornate fabrics? Whatever the reason, there are many ways to satisfy our lust for all things Aladdin inspired.

A favourite haunt of the Kuati team is a divine little treasure chest of a restaurant named Momo. The food is simply delicious (the couscous is the like none I had ever sampled. It is delicate, light, and fluffy to the point where it almost melts in your mouth) and the cocktails (both virgin and alcoholic) absolutely divine.
Momo creates an atmosphere that is both welcoming and warm and manages to perfectly balance a decadent dollop of Algerian charm with a touch West London glamour, all the while avoiding becoming trite.

After your food, slouch down in the ottoman inspired, low-slung couches and absorb the ambience with a refreshing hot mint tea while nibbling on a selection of maghrebine pastries.

Aladdin, eat your heart out!!!

Thursday, 17 February 2011

Orient Express



Having recently celebrated Chinese new year, we are LOVING all things that embody and embrace an elegant, oriental essence. Lucky for us at Kuati we have this Japanese inspired, East Village Silk Kimono.

For years designers have been musing over the intricate beauty that both Chinese and Japanese style and traditions manages to epitomize. Images from the Orient consistently feature heavily throughout the catwalks. Surely it is only just that we to take a moment or two to admire this fabulously exciting trend. What better place to start than with an example of sheer excellence from the Louis Vutton camp.

Eastern influence has been asource of inspiration and fascination for many years. This comes as no surprise when designers such as Issey Miyake and Yohji Yamamoto are able to utilize the stimuli to such wonderful affect.

The infamous Shanghai Tang piece of exquisite, wearable art that (as Brix Smith-Start highlighted on Gok's fashion fix last week) costs a mere £27,000 is prime example of the fine synergy created when the two worlds do meet.
May the year of the rabbit bring you as much joy as these beautiful pieces have brought us!!!

Wednesday, 16 February 2011

Not wanting to 'Harp(er)' on about it.

In the shop we have some beautiful Cavallini stamp sets at the moment and it got me thinking back to all things arts and crafts. Both me and the boss have a penchant for old word presses - believe it or not if i just happened to somehow acquire that warehouse home i've always wanted it'd be one of my first purchases in all it's wrought iron loveliness.
Following that - spending what would have to be a huge lottery win at this rate - i would get my somewhat obsessive collection of silk screen prints and lithographs framed - something that started thanks mainly to one man - Charley Harper.






https://charleyharperprints.com/

http://www.charleyharperartstudio.com/

Sunday, 13 February 2011

A good old fashioned cake bake - YUM.

It's looming again - Monday morning is on it's way and that sinking Sunday slouch feeling is peeking round the door ready to bowl me over with the realisation that another week has snuck by without so as much as a by your leave... so there's only one thing for it - turn to food or maybe I should be more specific: CAKE.

Having been obsessed for a while with Yotam Ottolenghi (after following his guardian recipes in the colour supplement every week http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/series/thenewvegetarian) and perhaps because rather too conveniently one of their little cafe's being based close by (well a bus ride down the road to Kensington http://www.ottolenghi.co.uk/locations/) from our little Mayfair boutique home my thoughts instantly spring from cake to Yotam - and it seems i'm not alone...

http://www.fannyloveslondon.com/2010/03/04/ottolenghi/

http://www.fannyloveslondon.com/2010/03/04/ottolenghi/

http://www.gourmet.com/magazine/2000s/2009/02/yotam-ottolenghi-profile

And if like me you're feeling like donning an apron and having a go so as to at least be able to claim a little sense of achievement when filling your face - http://www.donutstodelirium.com/ is there to lend a helping hand (figuratively speaking anyway) as a fellow fan there's an ace recipe for the apple and olive oil with maple cream cheese frosting posted on her blog http://www.donutstodelirium.com/2010/04/ottolenghi-apple-and-olive-oil-cake-with-maple-cream-cheese-frosting/

So happy baking and here's to expanding horizons (an waistline's but hey life's too short...)

Though it's nice to know that they're also not immune to or able to rise above the wonders of their own offerings either if it helps.... http://www.ottolenghi.co.uk/blog/2011/10/17/cake-geeks/

http://www.ottolenghi.co.uk/

Friday, 11 February 2011

"Curl me quick"

As the season of weddings seems to be dawning on my horizon this year, a worm-hole in the space-time continuum seems to have opened causing a distinctive harking back to the "good old days" when it comes to my barnet idea's for  "do's" for the big occasions - maybe it's the Madmen influence or the fact London life seems to have a smidge of the Caberet scene about it at the moment either way Rockabilly is alive and kicking within me I've found and I actually lost hours watching 'Victory roll' tuition video's yesterday on Youtube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ8gQiIJuMA






http://vixenvintage.blogspot.com/2010/02/quick-and-easy-vintage-hairdos.html

Friday Fashion...

Fashion, shopping and general on-line purchasing and perusing is an everyday part of Kuati life and today I thought I'd unleash my on-going obsession with this website;

NastyGal  http://www.shopnastygal.com/



MUST RESIST ... uh-oh what's this is my hand, a credit card?!?! Oh no.

Thursday, 10 February 2011

Lomography!

My dad used to dabble in antique's when the sixties were swinging and uni was paid for by the government so recently i found this in the attic and have become an addict...

http://www.lomography.com/



And apparently lomography mecca just opened up in Spitalfields so I shall be hop,skipping off there presently....

http://microsites.lomography.com/stores/gallery-stores/east-london


Chin Chin Laboratories......

Okay so I've been dipping my toes into the world of blogs all day - after being hauled up inside because the weather out was wet and dreary and I'm all cold ridden inside - I was reminded of something that brightened my mood the other day...

Chin Chin Laboratories...


Seriously smooth, seriously frozen and seriously yum.

http://www.chinchinlabs.com

Wednesday, 9 February 2011

It's a Dog's Life

Simply loving the way self-confessed interior design junkies, Kim and Joe, see the world!


Their blog, http://www.desiretoinspire.net/ literally fills me with inspiration (and a wee smidge of envy!!!)
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...