GEORGE NELSON EXHIBITION

Last week, and for the second time, i visited the beautiful swiss city of Basel and the nearby Vitra architectural compound, located in the small german town of Weil am Rhein.

Like in so many other exhibitions that Vitra has shown in its amazing Design Museum, designed by Frank Gehry, the George Nelson one takes an in-depth look on the american designers' work. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Nelson's birth (1908), the exhibition is the first comprehensive retrospective of his career.

From the most renowned classics - the Marshmallow Sofa or the vast collection of wall clocks are just two examples - to the innovative office furniture that Nelson designed in the fifties and sixties, the exhibition also shows other areas where Nelson introduced his creativity, such as graphic design, photography, literature and exhibition design.

From all the projects and pieces featured in the presentation, i especially loved the Experimental House size model, a prefab home that never left the paper, the delicate Miniature Chests, and last but not least, the beautiful range of sofas that Nelson designed over his career.

Open until May 3rd, 2009.

( Written and Photographed by Álvaro )

A SHOT OF COLOUR

I love notebooks... Apart from their obvious practicality, when beautifully made, they are a pleasure to own and flick through from time to time.
As the beginning of the year is the ideal time to renew one's stock, i love these by Orla Kiely, which having her signature colours and prints, are definitely smile inducing.

Containing 128 off-white ruled pages and being perfectly sized for a handbag, like a bunch of flowers in the home, or an uplifting scent, they're the perfect antidote for handbag depression.

Besides the bags, clothing line, stationery and homewares, the irish designer has teamed up with Target, so if you're in the US, an exclusive line of Kiely's homewares will be available at Target stores from the 15th February.

( Written by Lola, Stills courtesy of Orla Kiely )

TOUR DE SANTOS

Our soft toys have been featured in The Guardian, in an article about the riverside neighbourhood of Santos, in Lisbon.

As well as Paris-Sete Concept, where you can find our little guys, you can also read about the local hotels, art galleries, bars and restaurants of this lovely hood.

( Written by Lola, Illustration by Adam Hayes for The Guardian )

PROUVÉ IN LONDON

Known as one of the most important figures in french design history, Jean Prouvé and his work were the theme for an amazing exhibition that ended today in London.

Showcasing one of the three Maison Tropicale prototypes (designed in the fifties to address the shortage of housing in the french colonies of West Africa) in the grounds of Tate Modern, the presentation also included the "Jean Prouvé - The Poetics of the Technical Object" exhibition from Vitra Design Museum, in which the work of Prouvé as a designer, engineer and problem solver was shown in a truly inspiring way. Besides his most reknowned designs such as the Standard chair or the Trapèze table, the Design Museum in London also showcased the remainings of a prefabricated barrack for World War II refugees, school furniture and a vast array of photographs and drawings.

( Written and Photographed by Álvaro )

READY TO GO

When it comes to travel bags, we love the ones by Globe-Trotter for its luxury, vintage feel and amazing quality. Shops wise, 10 Corso Como is one of our favourite for its eclectic choice of products and spacious shopping area. When you put the two together, you only can get a great result: the new range of Globe-Trotter bags by 10 Corso Como.

With an exterior in matt grey - a re-edition from the Globe-Trotter archives - with black leather trimming and the 10 Corso Como monogram print inside, the bags are the perfect accessories to travel in style.

Exclusively available at 10 Corso Como.

( Written by Álvaro, Photo courtesy by Globe-Trotter )

THE WORLD BY MIROSLAV SASEK

When it comes to finding the best travel guides for adults, we think Wallpaper* and Nota Bene fit the bill perfectly. When thinking of something for children, our favourites are the 'This is' collection - definitely the best choice for the little ones.

Conceived by czech illustrator Miroslav Sasek in the 50s and 60s, the colourful books show some of the big cities (and regions) of the world in an innocent and charming way, providing a delighful image of the most typical global scenes such as the San Francisco trams, or the Queens Guard in Buckingham Palace.

( Written by Álvaro, Photographed by Lola and Álvaro )

IN THE BAG

With the A/W 2007 season in mind, we've launched four new beautiful zipper bags.

Perfect for keeping everything in place in your handbag or tote in the most gorgeous manner, and measuring 21 x 15 cm ( 8 by 6 inches ), Wooden bags are handmade from 100% cotton fabrics ( outer and lining ), and adorned with two wooden button designs, a terrier dog and a 747 plane.

In 4 fantastic colours - ochre, prune, latte and brick - and contrasting threads, they can house everything from travel necessities, make-up and beauty products, first aid, jewellery, camera and iPod, documents and currency.

Lovely as a gift for a loved one ( yourself included! ), Wooden bags are available in our online shop.

( Written and Photographed by Lola )

GREENER COMMUTING

Being green, besides such healthy habits as using recycled paper or saying no to plastic bags, is also the way you go from A to B.
Apart from cycling, walking, or using public transportation, sharing a car is one of the most efficient ways to save the planet.
Zipcar, the worlds' largest network of shared cars, is a great solution for city dwellers who don't wish to own a vehicle: car usage gets reduced by half, fuel consumption decreases, and each one of these cars replaces 20 privately-owned ones.
Available in several US cities such as San Francisco and Chicago, and also London, our wish is that this great concept arrives in other traffic jammed locations.

( Written and Photographed by Álvaro )

CITIES ON FOOT

The best way to get around a city is definitely on foot... If with plently of time and energy to spare, nothing beats enjoying the views up-close, feeling a gentle breeze on your face, mingle with the locals and, of course, do a bit of leg-shaping exercise.
With this in mind, Chronicle Books has the most practical guides, City Walks, a small kit containing 50 cards divided by city area, with a map on one side and the proposed walk on the other.
Available in 16 versions, including London ( seen here ), Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Vancouver, and Los Angeles, it's a great way to enjoy a city like the natives do.
And for travelling with kids there's also two child-friendly City Walks on offer: the kids version of the New York and San Francisco guides.

( Written and Photographed by Lola )

MODERN NOMADS

The new issue of Mexx Connect magazine is dedicated to one of our favourite subjects, world travel.
Available in both print and online mode, inspiringly named Modern Nomads and entirely devoted to the art of travelling well, this issue features among others, Nomadic Essentials, a well-put together and beautifully designed guide for those who make travelling a way of life. Among Wallpaper's City Guides, the gorgeous Apple I-Phone, and even a foldable guitar by DeVillain for those who can't say no to a jam session, our soft toys (aka Cool Cuddlies) have also made an appearance, where you can read:

'The new rage in soft toys, popularly called the ''designer plush'' trend, is turning cuddly companions into travel must-haves for kids big and small.

While plush for kids generally act as a safety blanket on the road,''they're fast becoming a much coveted fashion accessory for trend-aware nomads'', says Lola of La Maison de Lola. ''Like other in-demand products, they act as a joint visual link between people globally.'' Her plush Foodie and Creatures creations, with names like Mr Pumpkin and Ms A. Lee Anne, are handmade and have unique personalities and interests such as yoga, pottery and karaoke. They even have their own blog where the toys talk about the latest design news, whether a new hotel, a Vitra re-issue of an Eames classic or designer dog leashes.'

You can read more press clippings here.

( Written by Lola )

LONDON MEALS

One of the things we love about London is the diversity of places to eat. From indian restaurants to haute cuisine, the Big Smoke is the right place to visit if you're a gourmet enthusiast.
Terence Conran, owner of the D&D restaurant chain, recently published a wonderful book dedicated to the best foodie destinations in the british capital: Eat London.
Besides a complete guide (divided by city areas) of the most acclaimed eataries, this useful book from Conran Octopus also provides sixty recipes by some of britain's top chefs.

( Written and Photographed by Álvaro )

AROUND THE WORLD IN STYLE

When visiting a city, we like to take with us as little as possible. With travelling light in mind, Wallpaper* City Guides by Phaidon (along with a few homemade lists and Google Maps) are our answer to a pocket size travel guide.

Tightly edited, the colourful editions made by Wallpaper* magazine provide info about the best spots in some of the major cities around the world, from architectural icons and hotels to restaurants and shops.

( Written by Álvaro, Photographed by Lola )

AIR WORLD

We love to travel and visit new places, and although not very eco-friendly, planes are still the fastest and most efficient way to do it.

Fascinated by the vintage aesthetics of the mid-century airline companies - modern airlines just don't have the same allure of the older days - we can remind ourselves of the golden age of air travel through the new book from Vitra Design Museum: Air World.

Full of great pictures (which include airports, airplanes and uniforms), and texts about companies such as Braniff Airlines or Lufthansa, this white cover book gives an extensive insight on the world of travelling by air.

( Written by Álvaro / Photographed by Lola )

SITTING PRETTY

Lisbon is not the easiest city to ride on a bicycle, but even so we're keen in pedalling our legs off on its hilly streets.
That said, and being lovers of the best handmade products, we think Brooks saddles are the right thing to accessorize your two wheeled vehicle.
Made by hand with the highest quality materials and giving great comfort when stroling around town, they are perfect to fit in any kind of bike, be it a folding one or a track model.

( Written by Álvaro / Photo courtesy of Brooks )

DAUNT BOOKS

We've arrived from a mini-break in London last week... Although the weather wasn't as gracious as we'd hoped for ( rain and thunder in July, anyone? ), London is always an inspiration with its elegant architecture, beautiful shops and museums.

Passionate about books, one of our favourite shops in The Big Smoke is definitely Daunt Books in Marylebone High Street.

A true treasure trove, besides the wonderful travel dedicated books, this Edwardian bookshop is a delight to the sight. Beautifully decorated with teal painted walls, vintage wallpaper, huge skylights, bright green lighting fixtures, and long oak galleries and staircases, Daunt has the old english ambiance down to a T.
Sprawled along three storeys - basement, ground floor, and galleries - the book selection is vast and conveniently organized by geography, so you can easily find not only travel books but also novels and other works regarding your desired region.
Besides the colourful display of books, you can also attend evening talks by writers.

Daunt Books, 83 Marylebone High Street, London W1.

( Written and Photographed by Lola )

TWO WHEELED WONDER

Established in 1972 by Jinbei Yamada, Japanese manufacturer Arrow makes some of the most exquisite bicycles in the world.

Producing only 1000 units per year, the several Arrow designs are available in 18 vibrant colours and can be bought with lots of practical accessories, such as baskets and trolleys.

Besides not putting its logo on the bicycles, Yamada encourages all his clients to assemble their own bike, creating a unique bond between them and the two wheeled wonder.

( Written by Álvaro / Photo courtesy of Arrow )

DESTINATION - COWLEY MANOR

Located near Oxford, in South East England, Cowley Manor is the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of city living. Just one hour and a half from London, this charming boutique hotel is installed in an elegant Victorian manor and surrounded by a beautiful countryside landscape (four lakes included!), perfect for having a walk or to breath the purest air.
Wonderfully decorated, the interiors of Cowley Manor are clean and relaxing, a mix between old and new, where you can easily see an adorned wooden staircase side to side with modernist Isamu Noguchi’s Coffee Table.

Very exclusive – it has only 30 rooms – the hotel also boasts a spa where you can get pampered with their long list of calming treatments. Besides the famous ‘Cloud 9’ (the hotel spa’s signature treatment) or an ‘energy revamp massage’, you can also take a swim in the two spacious pools or have a purifying sweat in the sauna room.

( Written by Álvaro / Photos courtesy of Cowley Manor )