Designers Block Directory

Just Click To Find The Places You MUST Go

2008-01-17T10:02:00.000-08:00

Shopping

Online

Staying

Hotels and Apartments You Must Stay In

Eating

Places You Must Eat In

Reading

Seeing

Sights You Must See

Styling

Styling Sources You Must Use

London Shops You Must Visit

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Fashion

COMFORT STATION - An amazing and beautifully designed shop selling Amy Anderson's intricate jewellery and handbags. One of the best shop interiors I have ever seen.

EGG - Stunning clean white interiors selling fabulous bohemian fashion

LIBERTY - The best shop in the World for Fashion

HARVEY NICHOLS - Absolutely Fabulous fashion floors

BROWNS - Fantastic range of designer fashion

COCO RIBBON - Brighten up your boudoir

NICOLE FAHRI - Browse her divine fashion then eat in her restaurant

CABBAGES & ROSES - An English rose of a shop

ALICE & ASTRID - Beautiful nightwear and underwear. Quintessentially English

ANTONI & ALISON - If you want a different shopping experience then this is the place to go

SELFRIDGES - Fashion floors full of gorgeous items

TATTY DEVINE - Sells the most off the wall fashion accessories in London

Homewares

LUNA & CURIOUS - Owned by a collective of designers this shop is unique and absolutely wonderful. Warning you will feel dizzy when you leave there is so much to see.

FEW AND FAR - New kid on the block but amazing, massive and friendly shop owned by Terence Conran's younger sister.

PETERSHAM NURSERIES - A must visit to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. A breath of fresh air literally.

LIBERTY - The best shop in the world for homewares

THE RUG COMPANY - Rugs by famous designers and all placed in the most divine settings

SQUINT - Totally different take on furniture and accessories

GENERAL TRADING COMPANY - One of the best interiors shops in London

MINT - Choc full of all those items you simply MUST have

JO MALONE - The place to go to make yourself and your home smell gorgeous

LINLEY - A member of the Royal family who makes the best furniture in the world

CABBAGES & ROSES - Gorgeous old English country looks

SELFRIDGES - Always manages to be at the cutting edge

VV ROULEAUX - A vast range of trimmings to use on just about anything you can think of

Loose yourself in this fabulous building and always see a famous face

HARVEY NICHOLS - Absolutely Fabulous dahling

Food

HARRODS - This is the best Food Hall in the World

FORTNUM & MASON - Must not be missed

MELT - Watch them make their delicious chocolates

HARVEY NICHOLS - One of the best Food Halls in London

BOROUGH MARKET - The place all the London chefs visit. Jamie Oliver is a regular

BILLINGSGATE MARKET - You have to be up early to catch the Billingsgate Fish Market but it's is so worth it

PAIN LE QUOTIDIEN - The best bread shop in the UK

SELFRIDGES - In the top 5 of London Food Halls, well worth visiting

Paris Shops You Must Visit

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Fashion

A fabulous department store with fabulous fashion floors

The only place to buy your Hermes Scarf. Never buy one in any other city it's just not the same experience

Gorgeous young fashion with that distinctive French Chic

Wacky, weird but wonderful clothes

You can't visit Paris without visiting Galeries Lafayette, it should be illegal to do so

A Parisian department store that is always at the cutting edge of fashion

This store is one that I visit every time I am in Paris - very chic

Wonderfully different fashions

More of that famous French Chic shines through their collections

Homewares

I can't think of any shop in Paris that comes anywhere as near perfection as Emery et Cie does. It is the jewel in Paris's crown

Julie at Agape is one of those quintessential French women. She takes vintage furniture and does something to them that turns them into works of art with an aged look

Guaranteed to find something different on every visit to this Parisian department store

Galeries Lafayette has it's own Home Store opposite the department store - a must to visit

Another department store but always at the cutting edge of design

This beautiful little shop in The Marais district is full of vintage pieces to die for

The first thing you will notice when walking into L'eclaireur is the fabulous Fornasetti furniture - just a treat to wander around

These French stores can be found all over Paris and manage to bring expensive looking design to the masses for budget prices. Fabulous place to mooch

Wacky, wonderful and totally different

If you want something different then go her first, it may save some shoe leather

Food

All I can say is - Never walk past a Fauchon shop without going in

Pierre Herme is the King of Macaron makers. There is rarely not a queue outside his shops. Delicious towers of them inside every store

J Crochoux is a chocolate shop that I found by accident. I bought some tiny chocolate babies as a gift for someone and they were so realistic no one will eat them

When you visit Fauchon in Place de la Madeline it takes an age to enter as you cannot stop looking in the windows at their fabulous food

This is an artisan chocolatier that lives up to it's name. They make everything under the sun from chocolate and the smell when you walk in is divine

New York Shops You Must Visit

2008-01-15T01:13:00.000-08:00

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Fashion

KATE SPADE - Multi award winning designer that manages to make everything pretty

TIFFANY - Really needs no introduction just don't go there for breakfast, they don't serve it

ABERCROMBIE & FITCH - The most stylish but the loudest shop in New York - I love it

ANTHROPOLOGIE - I hate that we have no Anthropologie shops in the UK it is glorious

BLOOMINGDALES - I always buy something here just to get a Brown Bag

MALANDRINO - For clothes that are just that little bit different

SCOOP - One stop shopping in your ultimate closet - their words not mine

CENTURY 21 - You just have to go and you may get an amazing bargain. On my last visit I got a Giorgio Armani Jacket for $35

NIKE STORE - Go because it's an amazing space, even if you don't like sportswear

Homewares

APPLE STORE SOHO - The best Apple Store. Play with Macs to your heart's content

KATE SPADE - Multi award winning designer that manages to make everything pretty

BLOOMINGDALES - I always buy something here just to get a Brown Bag

BANCHET FLOWERS - I stepped in here and it was like heaven

ANTHROPOLOGIE - I hate that we have no Anthropologie in the UK it is glorious

THE RUG COMPANY - An English company with a vast range of designer rugs in superb settings

Food

KATZ'S DELI - I don't care that tourists go the sandwiches are huge

MARIE BELLE - Buy chocolates that look as though they have been hand painted then go in the Cacao Bar and Tea Salon for some refreshment

DEAN & DELUCA - Massive exposed columns, Carrera marble floors, white tile walls, stainless steel shelving and display cases, ample room for meat and fish, bakery and pastry, cheese, candy and coffee display counters. What more could you want?

THE ALGONQUIN - Go and have a coffee and a sandwich in the bar. It is steeped in history. Hey, even Dorothy Parker loved it

Kids

ABERCROMBIE & FITCH - The most stylish but the loudest shop in New York - I love it

KATE SPADE - Multi award winning designer that manages to make everything pretty

FAO SCHWARZ - Brings out the child in everyone who steps over the threshold. Dance on the giant piano keyboard like Tom Hanks did in BIG

Amsterdam Shops You Must Visit

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Fashion

STILLA - Huge range of Sarah Pacini clothes here. Dare to be different

ANGIE V - In the beautiful Magna Plaza Shopping Centre this shop is full of gorgeous shoes and accessories

ANTONIA - Just a beautiful shoe shop

DE BIJENKORF - A wonderful department store with wonderful fashions

CASHMERE DE LUXE - the first and only cashmere speciality shop in the Netherlands

MAISON de BONNETERIE - A wonderful store full of fabulous fashion

LAUNDRY INDUSTRY -Beautifully tailored but cutting edge fashion

METZ & CO - Stocks all the big designer names from all over the world

SISSY-BOY - Classy street wear in a great setting

Homewares

MATHIEU HART ANTIQUES - Just an amazing Antique shop that has been there for nearly 130 years. I must be doing something right

DE DIJENKORF - Department store with stunning stuff for the home

CORTINA PAPIER - If like me you love journals and paper then step into this space and be in heaven

SISSY-BOY - Fabulous collections of homewares in this quirky shop

Food

PUCCINI - A chocolate lovers paradise. Deep dark chocolate in deep dark surroundings

GEELS & CO - Coffee from wall to wall and not a drug in sight. This is my sort of Coffee Shop

KITSCH KITCHEN - Put dark glasses on to enter this store. Full of Kitchen Kitsch as it says on the tin

Milan Shops You Must Visit

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VERSACE - Glitzy, luxurious and dazzling

FENDI - Over the top Italian fashion, be blown away

GUCCI - Never loses it's appeal and is gloriously decadent

MISSONI - A riot of colours

ALESSI - A must to visit. Full of classics and brand new designs for your home

MOSCHINO - This is truly a fabulous shop. My favourite is the Cheapand Chic range

ROSSANA ORLANDI - Go to the street and look for a shop window. There is no signage but well worth stepping into

GIORGIO ARMANI - The Armani store has every Armani collection from Emporio to Casa and is a divine space. A palace fit for the King

Online Fashion Shops You Must Visit

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TOAST - Simple, elegant very English style one of my all time favorites

ANTHROPOLOGIE - Still yearning for delivery to the UK. So I yearned and YES from January 2008 they ship outside the USA

PAUL SMITH - The master of simple design

VELVET BY GRAHAM & SPENCER - I love the styles that all seem to have that French Chic look about them

CABBAGES & ROSES - Quintessentially English and gorgeous

ENGLISH ECCENTRICS - As it says on the tin

LITTLE FASHION GALLERY - The best place to shop for kids. Beautifully wrapped and ships worldwide from France. I am a regular customer here

VINTAGE KIT- Gorgeous way back when styles for kids

THE HAMBLEDON - London based and very stylish

THE WHITE CO - A British company with a worldwide appeal. Mainly casual and nightwear

VOLLERS CORSETS - Fabulous corsets from this company that has been around for eons but moves with the times

ISABELLA OLIVER - I keep saying - you don't have to be pregnant to wear their clothes

ME ME ME - Fabulous collections of designers handbags, accessories and Pandora jewelry for YOU YOU YOU.

AND GOD CREATED WOMAN - An homage to Brigitte Bardot, the original coquette. Fabulous dressing gowns, slippers etc - sheer luxury.

Markets You Must Visit

2008-01-15T01:09:00.001-08:00

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Amsterdam

BLOEMENMARKT - The famous floating flower market is a feast for the eyes and nose

WATELOOPLEIN - The best Flea Market in Amsterdam - a junk lovers dream

New York

HELL'S KITCHEN - World famous flea market with just about everything

FARMERS MARKET - The first time I heard of Farmer's Markets was in New York now they are everywhere

Florence

MERCATO CENTRALE - The most colourful indoor market I have ever stepped into

England

NEWARK ANTIQUES FAIR - Up to 4,000 stalls. 84 acres. 10 buildings. Over 200 shopping arcades. 44 marquees. 100's of outside pitches. 6 fairs per year. 18 shopping days. 1000's overseas buyers.

BILLINGSGATE FISH MARKET - Get up early or you'll miss it. 54 merchants will show you the largest selection of fish in the UK

BOROUGH MARKET - Sits on the South Bank of the Thames and is the oldest food market in London. You can bet you will see at least one famous chef

DOVER STREET MARKET - I swear you will never see another market like this. The man who thought of it describes it as - beautiful chaos.

SPITALFIELDS - Lots of markets and shop in one area. Spend a whole day there and never get bored

France

THE HAM FAIR - I love this Parisian antiques fair that occurs twice a year - March and October. Over 400 stalls of amazing vintage items and a whole street of food stalls and cafes in the centre selling the most delicious Ham related food.

LES PUCES DE PARIS - In other word The Flea Markets of Paris. Expensive but fascinating and huge.

L'ISLE SUR LA SORGUE - This antiques market has got to be in one of the most beautiful settings. It's in Provence so we can expect no less

Online Homeware Shops You Must Visit

2008-01-15T01:09:00.000-08:00

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GHOST FURNITURE - Bringing quality furniture back from the dead and making it hauntingly beautiful - this is mine so it would be here of course

MYDECO - A must for interiors, every online shop in one place with a myriad of features to help you with your interior design projects

WHEREDIDYOUBUYTHAT.COM - This used to be mine but I still love it

RE - Based near my home and packed full of fabulous vintage and vintage style items - my favourite

ROSE & RADISH - A beautifully clean and easy to use website full of must have items for the home

20 LTD - Sells 20 limited editions at a time - fabulous sophisticated stuff

ANTHROPOLOGIE - Homewares galore here, very stylish and different. As from January 2008 they ship worldwide - BRILLIANT!

APPLE PIE DESIGN - Amazing decals for every room in your home

BODIE & FOU - 2 French sisters that bought wheredidyoubuythat.com from me. This is French chic at its best

CABBAGES & ROSES - Quintessentially English items for the home. Masters of faded fabrics

BROCADE HOME - An American site that I covet

5.5 DESIGNERS - Totally clever French designers selling amazing ideas

COX & COX - Just beautiful, carefully chosen items

DECAYING ELEGANCE - The best vintage furniture shop based in France that effortlessly ships worldwide

DEE PUDDY - Absolutely fabulous items for the home and garden. Traditional with a twist

DIRTY DOLLIE -Shabby chic home accessories brilliantly presented

ENGLISH ECCENTRICS - Flocked everything in fabulous bright colours plus much more eccentricty

GRAHAM & GREEN - Just an amazing collection of things for the home - so sophisticated

LITTLE FASHION GALLERY - Great kid's furniture including vintage items shipping worldwide

MONSOON - Highly decorative and very reasonable a bit Marrakesh in style

MOSS ONLINE -They sell Fornasetti Trays, isn't that enough?

PARISTIC - If you want your home to look like a Parisian garret then go here and find amazing decals to make it so

PEDLARS - Selling all sorts including old telephones, old London Underground Signage and London Bus Destination Blinds - all originals

THE FRENCH HOUSE - Just divine items sourced from all over France

SCUMBLE GOOSIE - Unpainted or painted furniture - excellent quality I have some of their shelves and they are stunning - French and Gustavian styles

THE HAMBLEDON - London based and full of quirky and different items

THE LAUNDRY - Clean, elegant choice of lovely products. Home of the Chocolate Iron

THE SHOP FLOOR PROJECT - Hugely clever virtual shop. Walk in and take a look the products are stunning

THE WHITE COMPANY - As much white stuff as you may require all smooth, clean lines

JO MALONE - Make your home smell divine. At £42 a bottle their room fragrance is not cheap but it lasts for at least a year - I know I buy it

TINY LIVING - Great idea this, small items for small homes

TOAST - Beautiful items sourced from all over the world all very ethnic

VANILLE - Beautifully presented full of French and Gustavian designs

WISTERIA - Beautiful collection of antique and decorative items

ZARA HOME - Need I say more. Amazing designs and amazingly affordable

Online Gifts Shops You Must Visit

2008-01-15T01:08:00.000-08:00

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CULICUE - Great boxes made to hold gift vouchers, tickets or anything that needs a special presentation box. Take a look they are stunning

DOT COM GIFT SHOP - Clever name and a clever, massive collection of gifts for everyone

GENTRY DE PARIS - I have a silk eye mask with Bugger Off on it from here. Decadence at it's very best. Boudior themed

JANE PACKER FLOWERS - Jane Packer is world famous and so she should be. Flowers delivered from this website could never disappoint

JOANNA WOOD - Beautifully styled and very different collection of gifts from this hugely talented interior designer

LA MAISON DU CHOCOLAT - Ooh Chocolat - they have websites in every country and I buy from them, delivery is very prompt and the chocolates are divine. I keep all the boxes as they are such superb quality

LITTLE FASHION GALLERY - Brilliant for buying kid's gifts. They are always wrapped and presented in that inimitable French Style

MAHAR DRY GOODS - Vintage and Artisan crafted toys and clothes for kids of superb quality that brings out creative play in our children - much better for them than watching videos

THE FRENCH HOUSE - Superb selection of French gifts. I did some of my Christmas Shopping here and it was a great experience

T SHIRT PATISSERIE - Nearly every member of my family had a Christmas gift this year from here. Design your TShirt (typeface, words, colours, style) online. You see it taking shape as you order then it comes in a ribbon tied cake box (choose a colour) and placed in a same colour bag with a card and a cupcake. How about that? The tshirts are by American Apparal and they ship from London worldwide - Phew

V&A GIFT SHOP - Another place I shopped Christmas. Never fails to present fabulous cutting edge gifts

Online Bloggers Shops You Must Visit

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It's me this one. Writer of Designers Block I also design and make Ghost Furniture. It's my directory so I thought I should give myself a mention

A FANCIFUL TWIST - Vanessa Valencia is the blog author and hugely talented designer from A Fanciful Twist. Stunning art and collages with limited edition prints. I have seen an orginal collage in the flesh - Stunning

COCO VINTAGE FURNITURE - Julie Paulino writes Belle Vivir and has a shop online selling the most divine collection of vintage furniture. The sort you always wanted but couldn't find

BOUTIQUE ROCHAMBEAU - Constance Muller who writes Rochambeau is my heroin, she makes the most divine dolls, handbags and stuff you only dreamed of. She made me a bunch of grapes from vintage fabrics and twigs - it is AMAZING

Ilva is Swedish and lives in Tuscany and she writes Lucillian Delights a fabulous food blog but she takes the most stunning photographs and I am delighted that she has actually started to sell them - truly talented lady

Jennifer Ramos writes Made By Girl has gone from designing furniture to designing beautiful letterpress cards. These are seriously stylish

Sofia Antonovich writes Les Invasions Ephemeres and was way ahead of the game with her decal design. Everything from full size baths to full size fireplaces. Wonderful stuff

Liddy Baars writes Little French Garden House and has a shop of the same name selling to die for vintage items. Huge selection of mouth watering items

Paola writes Mirror Mirror and runs her online shop in London from Seattle in America. She sells an eclectic mix of wonderful gifts and accessories

Joy of Oh Joy who I would imagine everyone has heard of has opened her online shop selling her wonderful stationary. This girl has a huge talent and her items are sold in shops worldwide. Elegant and delicious

Poppy Talk has it's own market stalls at Poppy Talk Handmade. A great idea where designers rent a stall online for a month for a flat fee then sell their items from it. Great designers and a great idea

Helen Morris, husband Chips and cousin Rachel all run this world famous Stencil Library and Helen writes Design Inspiration. These are not your usual stencils these are stunning stencils you must see their hundreds of designs and see what they do with them on the blog

Jamie who writes the brilliant Design Milk has an online shop selling cutting edge designs that are just that bit different and well worth a look

Yvonne Crotty writes Designs By Bonzie makes customised fashion items - made from vintage fabrics with antique buttons, beads, sequins, paint and vintage inspired trimmings.

Hotels & Apartments You Must Stay In

2008-01-15T01:05:00.000-08:00

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Apartments

LA PIAZZA - Situated in a glorious piazza in Greve, Chianti, Tuscany. I have stayed in this apartment and loved it. Nothing spectacular but clean, comfortable and if you are nosey then you will love it

IMPERIAL GRAND SUITE

NAPOLEON'S MEWS

THERMOS LOFT

These 3 are my picks from The Paris Marais website. They have a wonderful collection of apartments for rent. The Thermos Loft is an ex art gallery with a Thermal Pool in the basement

HOTELS

UK

FALSTONE BARNS - I really can vouch for this one, just about a mile from my tiny hamlet in Northumberland this is 5 star luxury in a fabulous rural setting. Ancient barns converted into 4 luxury apartments set in a fabulous cobbled courtyard.

THE LYGON ARMS - In the glorious town of Broadway in the Cotswolds this is a 5 star historic hotel. If you can't afford to stay there you can still stop for a coffee

42 THE CALLS - In the city of Leeds in Yorkshire. I have stayed in the Penthouse Suite and it was fabulous

HOTEL DU VIN - Situated in Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Cheltenham, Glasgow, Harrogate, Henley-on-Thames, Tunbridge Wells, Winchester and York. Fabulous atmosphere, furnishings, food and bedrooms. Relaxing to the 'nth degree

MALMAISON - Situated in Belfast, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Oxford and Reading. All in glorious historic buildings with cutting edge design statements

CRAZY BEAR - Situated in Oxford, London and soon in Beaconsfield. The Oxford Hotel has a London Bus as it's reception. All have fantastic furnishings.

France

HOTEL PARTICULIER - At last a decent hotel in the Montmatre district of Paris. An old townhouse set in a cobbled courtyard this is one beautiful place to stay

APRES LA SIESTE - Situated in Saint Laurent des Arbres, a typical village between Provence and Cévennes. Amazing rustic charm that the French do so well

CHATEAU EZA - Donkey's take your bags up the steep hillside to this wonderful hotel. I stayed for a week once and lost a stone. Views over the Cote d'Azur to die for.

L'HOTEL PARTICULIER - In Arles, Southern France this is utter luxury with genuine country charm

LA MAISON DOUCE - Another one of those hotels where you think you have stepped into a page of a design magazine. Glorious

PARIS MARAIS SELECTION -This is a website that has a fantastic collection of Paris Marais hotels for you to choose from. All budgets but all fabulous

PAVILLON DE LA REINE - I stayed here for Christmas once and it was wonderful. They even have an honesty bar in the lounge. Luxurious and positioned right inside Place des Vosges.

PERSHING HALL - Situated behind the Champs Elysee this is total luxury. Famous for it's Interior Courtyard Rain Forest that climbs the huge wall. I stayed and received a box of Maison du Chocolats just for being there.

UN COEUR TRES NATURE - I can't use the word beautiful enough here. This is French chic and country style at its very best. Set in stunning Liouc

UNE AUTRE MAISON - Situated in Nyons this hotel is like peering in the pages of Marie Claire Maison. Stunning furnishings and gardens.

Italy

HOTEL SANTA MARIA - In the Trastevere (the ancient area) of Rome. This is a former convent with the rooms circling the courtyard. I stayed for Christmas once and is was an oasis of calm in a manic city

HOTEL LA MINERVA - I stayed in a room here overlooking the bay of Naples. Breakfast on the balcony was heaven. Clean, bright, stylish and friendly.

PALAZZO LEOPOLDO - Situated in Radda in Chiant, Tuscany. This old Palazzo is charming with breakfasts served in an wonderfully ancient kitchen at a communal table. Great for meeting people from all over the world

VIGNAMAGGIO - This is reputedly the house where the girl who sat for the Mona Lisa lived. If that's not true then it certainly was the place where Much Ado About Nothing was filmed. It is the most stunning house in the most stunning position anywhere in Tuscany

USA

THE ALGONGUIN - Home of the famous Round Table. It is a literary haven. Wonderful wood and deep dark corners

THE MARTHA WASHINGTON INN - Situated in Abingdon, Virginia. I stayed here back in the 1990s and it was like being on the set of Gone With The Wind. Big goose down duvets, wonderful antiques and all at the foot of the Smokey Mountains

SOHO HOUSE - New York. Last time I stayed here it was the New York Fashion Week. The best people watching ever. Fabulous cutting edge hotel

BREAKWATER INN & SPA - Sitting on the breakwater in Kennebunkport, Maine. The only complaint here was that a big duck came into my waterside room. The kids loved it

Places You Must Eat In

2008-01-15T01:04:00.000-08:00

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UK

THE FAT DUCK - Situated in Bray, Berkshire. Voted The Best Restaurant In The World. It truly is. I have eaten there and Heston Blumenthal's mix of food and science just blows your mind and your taste buds

THE HINDS HEAD - Situated in Bray, Berkshire. Another Heston Blumenthal restaurant, just down the road from The Fat Duck. This is true British fare in true British surroundings - superb

ROGANO - Literally step back in time when you enter this original Art Deco restaurant in Glasgow. They had the forsight never to change anything and all the walls and fitted furniture are truly original. They taught me to love oysters here. Fabulous seafood that really tastes of the sea

HARVEY NICHOLS @ THE OXO TOWER - Fabulous food and fabulous views over the Thames

THE OYSTER BAR @ BIBENDUM - This fabulously tiled oyster bar is in the foyer of The Conran Shop on Fulham Road, London. The old Michelin Building is, to me, a palace

LES TROIS GARCONS - In London's East End is a visual delight. Packed with quirky vintage pieces and so much eye candy you could go blind. The food's good too

POONS CHINESE RESTAURANT - Situated on Lisle Street in London's China Town this is scruffy and one particular member of staff sniffs the whole time she is serving but the food is to die for. Do not be put off by the exterior or the sniffing

France

LA GAULOISE 59 Avenue La Motte Picquet, 75015 Paris. If you are in Paris don't miss this truly traditional French restaurant where all the politicians and famous eat but don't worry it's not expensive, just delicious

CHEZ MARIANNE - A Marais institution. Situated in the Jewish Quarter I have no idea what it is they serve but it tastes divine. Worth it just to see and hear Marianne a middle aged Bardot type French woman with a laugh like a drain

CAFES OF THE HAM FAIR - If you are visiting the Ham Fair in Paris on the little island of Chatou then go and eat some ham dishes at the cafes in the centre aisle of the stalls - delicious fare

BRASSERIE LIPP - On the Boulevard Saint Germain this Paris institution is worth a visit just to see the jewelry on the customers. If you look poor you get put in Siberia - the cold part of the restaurant - dress up

AIX EN PROVENCE CAFES - Any pavement cafe in Aix is the place to stop and have a bite to eat just to people watch

AVIGONON CAFES OPPOSITE THE PALAIS DE PAPES - Just one of those fabulous places to sit and eat

ABSOLUTELY ANY VILLAGE IN THE LUBERON -So beautiful the food becomes irrelevant

Italy

LA CASTELLANA - If you are staying in Greve in Chianti, which I would strongly advise, you can take a walk up the hill and by the time you get to the top you will be ready to eat. This is a superb restaurant in the most idyllic location - go

CAFE FLORIAN - Venice is not the best place for eating out but sitting in our outside Cafe Florian is something everyone should be able to do at least once in their life. Best time is when the orchestras outside each cafe in St Mark's Square compete against each other

VILLA BORDINI - Situated in the Greve area of Chianti this is a cookery school, hotel and restaurant. Stunning place and stunning food

OVERLOOKING THE SEA ON THE ISLE OF CAPRI - Restaurants and cafes too numerous to mention all with fabulous views over the Bay of Naples

TRASTEVERE IN ROME - Just stop anywhere in this ancient part of Rome and enjoy real Roman peasant food - delicious. I had Christmas Dinner at one of them - 5 courses of delicious food and 1 Litre of Wine for 15 Euros

INSIDE THE MERCATO CENTRALE IN FLORENCE - Go in the front doors, turn left and sit at the little cafe in the corner. It has been there for years and the old couple running it will give you the best cup of coffee in Florence with delicious snacks

USA

BRASSERIE LES HALLES - Anthony Bourdain comes second on my favourite chef's list - Jamie Oliver is first. I was in no way disappointed when I visited his restaurant in New York

THE RUSSIAN TEA ROOM - Well how can you not visit this New York institution? The decor is blinding and Carol Gillot (Paris Breakfasts) paints their menus

THE FRENCH MARKET IN NEW ORLEANS - Just strolling around eating items purchased from the stalls is heaven on earth then stop off at The Original French Market Coffee Stand

TAVERN ON THE GREEN - On Central Park, New York this fabulous restaurant could serve me dirt and I would still be in awe - fabulous rooms and gardens

Spain

BODEGAS IN THE MOUNTAINS - If perchance you are going into the mountains of Spain then stop by a Bodega and not only will you get fablous wine but they will feed you with the best ham, tomatoes, bread and olive oil that you have ever tasted

TAPAS IN BARCELONA - Only because they are the best Tapas I have had in Spain

Austria

CAFE MOZART VIENNA - Don't listen to those pain in the butt people who tell you it's full of tourists because it's not due to the fact that most tourists believe them and don't go. GO it's fabulous and the cakes are divine

Magazines You Must Read

2008-01-15T01:03:00.000-08:00

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French

MARIE CLAIRE MAISON - The Queen of French interior magazines

ELLE DECORATION - Positively the best of the Elle Decoration magazines

CAMPAGNE DECORATION - Sorry no link here but it is a fantastic magazine for the French Country Look

MARIE CLAIRE IDEES - Packed full of ideas and so stylish

COTE SUD - My favourite of the Cote collection. Beautiful photography and styling

MAISON FRANCAISE - An eclectic mix of superb French styles

American

DOMINO - Great magazine and great website

VICTORIA - Our friend Corey Amaro of Tongue in Cheek now works for this fabulous publication. Good choice Victoria

British

SELVEDGE - The BEST ever magazine. They do send worldwide and my advice is to subscribe. Fabulous articles and ads placed by artisans with huge talents.

LIVING ETC - Contemporary and stylish

VOGUE - Well I had to choose the British version didn't I?

TATLER - Quintessentially English.

BBC HOMES & ANTIQUES - It's a BBC publication so it's bound to be good. I am biased as they did feature my house some years ago.

EASY LIVING - From the Conde Nast stable. This is for busy women and it works

Books You Must Read

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A heart wrenching story about a Jewish pianist in Warsaw before and during World War 2. 'Lest we should forget

What can I say - the boy is a genius. He is changing our nation's eating habits and for that I thank him.

See how those famous artist's live. An eye opener

The most delicious snacks from our Kitchen Queen

My hero - Kevin McLoud, the man who brought us Grand Designs. I have followed his techniques and they work

A short but beautiful love story set in a time when the Silk Route was at its peak

Even if you never read this book it will look great on your coffee table

An amazing story by the amazing woman that started Biba

A must read if you are visiting Provence. Make sure you miss nothing

I read this book way before all the film hype and thought it was one of the best books I have ever read

If you don't understand the French then you MUST read this book. It helped my daughter settle in Paris without getting frustrated. A fascinating read

It doesn't matter what class, religion, race or type of person you are you will relate to this book. Truly this is the BEST book I have ever read and the only book I have read more than once

In my opinion the funniest man in the world. He changed comedy forever when he appeared. Now you can find out what he is like to live with - fascinating

Sights You Must See

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France

Nothing looks better than Sacre Coeur against a blue Parisian sky on Sunday mornings

Versailles has to be the best house in the World in my humble opinion. I have been lucky enough to see it from the air with the view straight down to The Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Also a wonderful town

Place de la Concorde at the bottom of The Champs Elysee never fails to make me gasp

If you have a strong stomach then drive along the top of The Gorges du Verdon in Southern France, just don't look down on the bends

Spain

The cathedral in Barcelona that has been being built for over 100 years is a wonderful place to visit as the artisans are still at work on it

Italy

Visit Venice in the Mist if at all possible. It is magical

In the town of Vinci in Northern Tuscany is the Leonardo Da Vinci Museum. See his inventions such as a bicycle with a leather loop chain - amazing stuff in a fabulous setting

Take the Apennine Road into Rome. You will pass mind boggling Roman buildings and structures and the road itself still has the same cobbled surface.

The Landscape of Southern Tuscany. It is surreal due to the fact that the winds blow away to top soil to create these smooth, rolling hills.

The Chianti Region of Tuscany. If you see a row of Cypress Trees you can bet it will lead to a fabulous house

The Towers of San Gimignano in Tuscany. It is known as the Manhattan of Italy and it truly looks so

The Ligurian Coast is one of the most stunning on the Med. Easier to get there from sea than by road. The motorway runs along the top of the cliffs with hundreds of tunnels.

If you are visiting Milan then think about staying in Bergamo, just 50 kilometers away. From City Alta (on the hill) you have fabulous views from whichever way you look

Austria

The Judenplatz Memorial in Vienna. A visit that will stay in your mind forever. After all the perpetrator of all the horror was from this city.

The UK

The Northumberland National Park is the most peaceful place in England - it's official. I live there and can vouch for it

Durham Cathedral. If you can't stop off then see it from the train to Scotland it's a sight you will never forget

The Blinking Eye Bridge in Newcastle upon Tyne. It literally opens and shuts just like a blinking eye to let the ships through

The Scottish Highlands and yes you do see Highland Cattle

The USA

The Manhattan Skyline. Must be seen approaching from the 59th Street Bridge. It seems impossible that all those buildings can stand on that small island without it sinking

The Chrysler Building. Just a beautiful structure especially when the sun shines on it

The Sugar Sands of the Gulf of Mexico. Surreal, especially against an emerald green sea

The Smokey Mountains. Before you set off stay in Abingdon

Styling Sources You Must Use

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Click On a Logo To Find Out More

EMMA CASSI - The Queen of all stylists

TATTERSALL LOVE - An agency that represents numerous talented stylists

IQONS - Another agency representing talented stylists

SHOOT FACTORY - Hire locations for photo shoots but is loaded with styling ideas

This agency has more stylists on its books than any other and every one of them is superb

TONGUE IN CHEEK - Corey is the most stylish woman living in France. Her blog is choc full of inspiration

MAMON GIGNOUX - Well she's French therefore she is exceptional

COTE MAISON - Online version of the Magazine. Just browse for styling ideas, there's loads

MARIE CLAIRE MAISON - Really needs no introduction - just visit and be blown away

JULIE BLACKMON is a photographer but you will get wonderful inspiration from her sets

RACHEL JONES - Beautiful sets from one of the top UK stylists

BUTIK SOPHIE - A Danish site that sell vintage furniture and shows them in amazing settings

SERA OF LONDON - Full of fabulous interiors and even videos of houses in that Bohemian style that we Brits do so well

DECAYING ELEGANCE - Masses of pictures of fabulous French vintage items and furniture in amazing settings

EMERY ET CIE - Just masses of design ideas here. I spend a lot of time on this site myself - it always inspires