Veuve Clicquot Dining/Billiard Table

Fusiontables is a Belgian design brand, which creates beautiful dining tables, which can be converted into billiard tables. Recently they partnered with the upscale French champagne house Veuve Clicquot to design a limited edition of 99 tables. 

The numbered series designed by Fusiontables combines French art de vivre with innovation, two values that capture the essence of Maison Veuve Clicquot. This exclusive table is a perfect example of how sharing precious moments with friends and enjoying life go hand in hand with contemporary design. 

This elegant dining table was made from the finest materials by highly qualified Belgian craftsmen and its innovative design in the emblematic colours of Veuve Clicquot perfectly illustrates the importance of the prestigious champagne brand for the design world.

The Noisettes Album Launch at Baroque

Shingai & Dan Smith

On Thursday 29th November, The Noisettes aka Shingai Shoniwa and Dan Smith played a show stopping gig to celebrate the launch of their 3rd album 'Contact' for friends and members at London's Baroque club. 

Shingai, the lead singer of the group started off the night chatting to fans in an amazing dress especially designed by PPQ which she told us she happened to wear “earlier in the day when meeting the Prime Minister, David Cameron.” The platinum gold and sequined gown included a unique gold metal crinoline which she wore over her dress. 

Baroque was the ideal venue for the album launch party as it is becoming one of London’s leading live performance spaces with acts such as Mark Ronson, the Kills, Delilah and James Blake to have already taken to the stage. The duo played an intimate 45 min set which included their hits such as “Let The Music Play” and “Contact.” Surprises were in store and it became a family affair as Dan’s father came on stage to play the harmonica along to some of their smash hits, which enticed the audience to cheer even louder. 

As the night wore on, the party atmosphere intensified, with guests dancing to house music by PPQ’s Percy Parker and enjoying Hoxton Gin cocktails.

Valentino Master of Couture Exhibition

Source: Le Petite Anglaise

The trend of fashion exhibitions is growing bigger and bigger and we have finally awaited a true master to display his creations for the general public - Valentino, the Master of Couture.

The exhibition at the Somerset House (London) opened today, November 29, and will go on until 3 March, 2013. It celebrates the life and work of Valentino, showcasing over 120 haute couture designs worn by icons such as Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Grace Kelly, Sophia Loren and Gwyneth Paltrow. A fashion exhibition not to be missed. More info at Somerset House.

Belle Epoque Florale Edition from Perrier-Jouët

Created by renowned floral Japanese artist, Makoto Azuma, Belle Epoque Florale Edition is the first Limited Edition of Perrier-Jouët's prestige Cuvee Belle Epoque, a reverential homage to Emile Galle's 1902 Art Nouveau design.

Azuma's elegant design features a delicate botanical arabesque, dotted with white Japanese anemones and a handcrafted motif of golden flowers on the bottle of Belle Epoque 2004, carefully selected by Cellar Master Herve Deschamps.

Fifth Floor Bar Florale Menu

The Harvey Nichols Fifth Floor Bar Florale Menu reflects the elegance of the Belle Epoque Florale Edition, paired perfectly with the delicate Belle Epoque 2004, comprising of four courses, using only the freshest of seasonal flowers. The menu consists of:

• poilane melba, viola, almond and truffle crumble
• hibiscus marinated salmon
• tea and lavander smoked duck breast
• chive and pansy dressed crab croustade

The winners of Great Scot Awards

David Florence, Luke Patience, Tim Baillie

On Tuesday 27th November, Scotland's finest convened upon Boisdale restaurant in Canary Wharf for a celebration of Scottish success over the previous year for The Aberdeen Asset Management Great Scot Awards 2012. Scottish talent from across a number of different disciplines, including Fashion, Art, Television and of course the successful sportsmen and women of the British Olympic team all mingled together for the prestigious awards.  Attendees included Pam Hogg, Lorraine Kelly, Trevor Sorbie, Olympic Gold Medallist Tim Baillie and world famous artist Jack Vettriano.

Please see below for the list of winners and categories:

1.    Music: Mylo presented by Ranald Macdonald of Boisdale

2.    Fashion: Pam Hogg presented by Gordon Brough of AAM

3.    Literature: Alexander McCall-Smith presented by Lawson Moncaster of City AM

4.    Sport: Tim Baillie presented by Martin Gilbert CEO of AAM

5.    Performing Arts: Jamie Sives presented by Dougie Duncanson of Johnny Walker

6.    Media: Andrew Marr presented by Loraine Kelly (Great Scot 2011)

7.    Art: Richard De Marco presented by Jack Vettriano Martin (Great Scot 2009)

8.    Great Scot: Sir Alex Ferguson presented by Sir Tom Hunter (Great Scot  2011)

9.    Life Time Achievement:  Lord Steel presented by Bill Martin (Great Scot 2011)

Jack Vetriano and guest

After the awards, there was the incredible Charity Auction, with all proceeds going to STV appeal supporting Scotland's children. The main talking point of the auction was the fantastic Jack Vettriano painting that had been specially commissioned for the night - named "Late Night Rituals II." Having generated much interest in the art world, the painting on the night was in a fierce bidding war, and Jack himself being present to congratulate the successful bidder.

Christmas Auction for War Child

Quintessentially Foundation is hosting an interactive Christmas auction in aid of War Child which is now Live! Please follow this link to see the amazing lots and to register christmas.auction-bid.org, or register via your phone by texting ‘CHRISTMAS’ to 88850.

There are some fantastic prizes up for grabs from holidays, meet and greet with Stephen Fry, red carpet experiences, dine at your home with a Michelin star chef with music entertainment by Ronnie Scott’s and many more. All our auction lots were picked and donated to be perfect Christmas gifts.

Please remember this auction is supporting a fantastic cause that believes no child should be the victim of war. War Child is the only international charity that focuses its work solely on children suffering the brutal effects of conflict.

As the shocking news from Syria attests on a daily basis, children are too often hit hardest by conflict. They are targeted, beaten, raped and tortured; their homes, families and schools are destroyed – everything a child needs to build a better future for themselves is lost. War Child’s unique, challenging work saves the lives of the most vulnerable children offering them a lifeline and hope for the future.

The auction in now live and will close on Thursday 29th November at midnight.

The Myth of Baobab

Baobab Coladas by Shaka Zulu's Bar Manager Tony Safqi (photo by George Torode)

For years in Africa, The Baobab tree has been the source of natural wellbeing and general health. Aduna, an Africa-inspired premium health and beauty brand, is now bringing the vibrancy of Africa to the rest of the world. Its first ‘Feel Good Fruit’ range allows everyone to enjoy the benefits of baobab as part of their daily diet.  

At a fabulous event at Shaka Zulu, we discovered how Aduna has made this pure, nutritious fruit pulp available as a loose powder or as convenient single-serve stick packs; ideal for adding to foods such as smoothies, juices, yogurts or cereal. Capsules are also available for on-the-go.  

With one of the highest antioxidant capacities of any fruit in the world1, it’s easy to see why Africa’s iconic baobab is being hailed as the next big super fruit. It contains over twice the antioxidants per gram of goji berries and more than blueberries and pomegranates combined.

Aduna’s goal is to establish baobab as a world-famous superfruit and drive the creation of a new industry for rural Africa, which experts estimate at a potential $1 billion. Ten per cent of Aduna’s profits will be invested in social innovation projects via the Aduna Foundation.

If you are interested to know more about Baobab, see Aduna's co-founder Andrew Hunt's speech at IHT Luxury 2012:

Gaya Island Resort Borneo

YTL Hotels’ Gaya Island Resort located in Sabah, Borneo, is the latest gem in its collection of fine hotels and resorts. Within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park off the coast of Kota Kinabalu in Borneo, the 121-villa resort rests along the coast of Malohom Bay, a natural sanctuary nestled in the hillside of an ancient rainforest with a stunning outline of Mount Kinabalu on the horizon.

In its commitment to craft unusual and authentic experiences, the resort offers a myriad of specially designed activities through PURE, the resort's activities programme that vivifies the senses; immersing guests in the vibrancy, scents, textures, sounds and tastes of the natural environment and cultural heritage of the region. With the introduction of PURE, brings two extraordinary people who will play vital roles in ensuring guests bring home with them unforgettable memories of their visit to Gaya Island Resort and Borneo. 

Located just off the coast of Kota Kinabalu and set on the shores of Pulau Gaya, the largest island in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, Gaya Island Resort offers the perfect launching pad to discover Borneo and all that it has to offer; idyllic golden sand beaches, diving sites of spectacular underwater havens and untouched tropical rainforests, offering a home to many rare species, including the orangutan, the proboscis monkey and the pygmy elephant.

Rei Kawakubo for Hermès

The founder of avant-garde label Comme des Garçons, Rei Kawakubo, has teamed up with Hermès and will be creating two-limited collections of Hermès' iconic silk scarves (or carrés), which will be available in retail in February, 2013. 

Comme des Carrés collaboration will give birth to two collections: 'Noir et Blanc' and 'Couleur' (the latter meaning 'Colour' and the former 'Black and White'). These will be sold exclusively in Comme des Garçons stores in Tokyo, New York and Paris. The 'Coleur' will also be available in London's Dover Street Market, of which the founder is none other but Rei Kawakubo.

We cannot wait to see them in London.

A Unique Mixology Set

One of the world's leading brands of luxury travel bags, Tumi, has gone a step further and announced the launch of Mixology Set as a part of their holiday collection.

The stupendous set was co-designed by Diageo and Ketel One Vodka. It consists of a range of bar accessories - from martini glasses to shakers, from zester to a wooden cutting board. There is also an ince bucket and a built-in bottle space, and all this masked in an elegant suitcase. Who doesn't want to have this!

Hedonism Wines in Mayfair

Hedonism Wines is London’s newest wine and spirits boutique, which has already become the most talked about wine project of recent times. Located in the heart of Mayfair on Davies Street and unlike any other fine wine shop in the UK, Hedonism Wines has created a contemporary, innovative space to showcase their produce, yet offering an easy to browse environment with an experienced team on hand to recommend and advise, many of whom are former sommeliers from London’s finest restaurants.

Specializing in the world’s finest wines and spirits, the owners have employed the UK’s top buyers to source 1,500 spirits and 4,500 wines from each region of the world, whilst carefully checking the provenance of every bottle. As a result Hedonism Wines is now home to some of the world’s classics including Macallan 50 year old 1928, Taylors 1945, a Courvoisier 1976 Baccarat Decanter and The Laird 2006 27 litre bottle.

Aside from the exquisite fine wines and spirits, Hedonism Wines has generated a name for itself in terms of design. Exposed brick walls, floor to ceiling glass cabinets and the most unique feature of all, the live vines growing up the walls which hold bottles of wine at all angles. Highlighted by an assortment of spotlights, up lighting and hanging wine glasses to reflect light. Hedonism Wines is not just about buying wine it is about the experience and the learning process. Customers are encouraged to sample the various bottles and currently they have 40 of the world’s finest wines and 5 champagnes to taste on the Enomatic machines.

Shopaholic Treat Package

This year is all about great British Institutions and The Stafford London by Kempinski is continuing the trend. Teaming up with Liberty London and the Burlington Arcade, guests booking the 'Shopaholic Treat Package' can take advantage of 10% discount when hitting the shops, which definitely will make Christmas even merrier. 

Bentley-branded Christmas Gift Ideas

Weekender Leather Bag

Bentley has unveiled a top drawer range of Bentley-branded accessories and gift ideas, which are definitely a chic choice for any enthusiast or aspiring owner. We chose a couple of our favourites to share with you.

Backgammon Set by Geoffrey Parker for Bentley

Breitling for Bentley Desk Clock

Cufflinks: Break Pedal, Oil Cap, Wheel Spinner

A Unique iPhone case by Uunique London

Actress Mischa Barton was in London last week to unveil what is suppose to be the most expensive cell phone case in the world. The Lotus iPhone case by Uunique London is emblazoned with 18-carat rose gold, pink and white diamonds and is priced to £189,000 ($302,985). 

Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co. reunite forces

Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co. relationship goes a long way back to as far as 1851. Tiffany & Co. stores have been one of the rare selected places to sell Patek Philippe watches and even have their name on some exclusive time pieces along the way. 

In order to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Patek Philippe boutique inside the Tiffany & Co. store on 5th Avenue in NYC, they joined forces and visions together to create the new 5396G. It will be produced for a limited time and in limited quantities. It is a truly elegant piece, which features a quote at the back: A Shared Vision, to point towards the essence of their relationship with Tiffany & Co. A luxurious cooperation of the world's finest.

Louis Vuitton Writing Collection

Louis Vuitton is bringing back the culture of writing letters. They have launched a stunning collection of exquisite writing utensils. This includes fountain pens encased in alligator leather, envelopes featuring trunk closures in their flaps, rollers and also a pot of ink.

The collection will be debuting on the 13th of December at a pop-up boutique at Saint-Germain-des-Pres in Paris, named Cabinet d'Ecriture Louis Vuitton (The Writing Room of Louis Vuitton). This truly is a collection read-made for Christmas shopping.

£1 Million Kitchen

A UK based Italian interior designer and master craftsman Claudio Celiberti has unveiled the world’s most expensive kitchen ever created, with a price tag of a million pounds - The ‘Fiore di Cristallo’.

Handcrafted in Italy the opulent kitchen features only the best quality materials including the world famous ‘Crystal of Murano’ (cristallo di Murano). The process for making this crystal is a complex and closely guarded secret. The result is crystal that is of the highest quality, free of air bubbles, smudges and impurities.

The bespoke kitchen includes a host of ultra-luxurious finishes including cabinets lined with solid copper, a mineral acknowledged for its hygienic qualities as it inactivates harmful microbes. Each of the 27 cabinets also have a 9mm crystal door handle, carefully made to an intricate and bespoke template.  In addition the kitchen features a crystal island, a stone worktop, a crystal basin and Philip Starck taps, chrome clad in crystal.

The centre piece of the kitchen is a modern yet elegant Swarovski Crystal and cristallo di Murano chandelier designed by Claudio Celiberti. The one million pound price tag also includes handcrafted appliances from Gaggenau.  The specialist German company has a history that goes back more than 300 years.

The ‘Fiore di Cristallo’ is the only model currently available in the whole of the world.  Anyone wishing to create their own ‘Crystal of Murano’ kitchen with Claudio, either to a similar specification, or completely tailored to their needs, will need to join a waiting list of up to eight months due to the highly skilled level of craftsmanship required from start to finish.