Happy New Year

Good luck for 2013

 Wishing everyone a Happy New Year & the best of luck for 2013

Horseshoe: Trakehners can Jump

Attend : Milestone Hotel

Champagne Afternoon Tea : The Milestone Hotel, Kensington

 I can't think of a better way to spend a post Christmas afternoon than taking a relaxing festive afternoon tea.
 Whilst everyone else was out battling to the sales to do yet more shopping, I took in the quintessentially English interiors of 'The Park Lounge' at The Milestone Hotel on Kensington Court.

 The Grade II listed building dates back to circa 1880, and the hotel today is named after the original cast iron milestone that still stands in it's original position beside the establishment.

 
The festive champagne afternoon tea menu kept all the important tradition of finger sandwiches but served with a festive twist;

 Mini squares of Christmas cake, and miniature mince pies were served alongside freshly baked scones, only bought to your table at request to ensure they were freshly baked, served with clotted cream and homemade jam.
   Finger sandwiches included a new take on a classic; round cut chicken sandwich rolled in chopped almonds.

 I loved the wooden paneled interiors of this hotel, the beautiful vintage caricatures adorning the walls. The restaurant, Chenestons, looked amazing and I'd love to go back and dine in the adjoining oratory area.

 The Milestone is like finding a hidden gem of tradition amongst all the ultra slick modern hotels in London. Located opposite Kensington Palace it feels stepped in history and definitely opulently English.

 The Milestone Hotel : Website
 1 Kensington Court
 London
 W8 5DL

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Must try : Champagne

Champagne : Gold illustrated bottles

 Gold illustrated bottles appear to be a continuing trend in limited edition Champagne. Both Perrier Jouët and Piper Heidsieck currently have beautifully illustrated champagne bottles for their rare vintages.

 Piper Heidsieck's 'Rare' is very limited and made in tiny quantities compared to some of the big house vintages. The 2002 vintage is only the eighth vintage to be released in the past 30 years.
 Housed in a beautiful baroque inspired, gold grape vine tiara adorned bottle (created by Parisian jeweller Arthus Bertrand) this is a Champagne that certainly lives up to it's name.

 Perrier Jouët's 'Belle Époque Florale Edition' is the first ever limited edition bottle of Perrier Jouët's Belle Époque Cuvee. Emille Gallé's infamous 1902 original bottle is reinterpreted for the first time by Japanese floral artist Makota Azuma featuring stunning gold coloured florals.

 Piper Heidsieck Rare : Sold at Whiskey Exchange
 Perrier Jouët Belle Époque Florale Edition : Perrier Jouët Website

Bathroom Interior : Modern French Vintage

Bathroom Style

 I've just finished decorating the bathroom. I wanted to keep the look modern, but still calm, fresh and quirky.  I've called this style 'Modern French Vintage'.

 Originally inspired by the bathroom at 'Majeka House' in South Africa, and then further by the clean, modern vintage look seen in hotels like '20 Degree Sud' in Mauritius and 'The Jalousie Plantation' in St.Lucia.

Wallpaper : Cole and Son 'Flamingos / Contemporary Restyled'
Tiles : Topps Tiles 'Metro'
Lantern : Oliver Bonas
Candles : Sandy Bay @ QVC
Mirror : Cooke & Lewis Lozenge Cabinet
Porcelain Apothecary Jars : 'Brissi' on Westbourne Grove

 Bathroom: Before & After