I have recently added Notting Hill to my residential list, and often, I admit, I have to stop and pinch myself. I've always had a weakness for a charming neighborhood that exudes personality, especially one with poetic Victorian nostalgia, a vibrant pulse, and an irresistible mélange of backstreet -tiques! Boutiques, antiques, the new, the classic, the collectible--Notting Hill's exquisite menu of interiors shops is undeniably vast. And naturally, as an i-aficionado with a new address, discovering these "nott-tiques" and their niches has been top priority. Here are some of my favorite finds:
Tucked away in the charming Clarendon Cross enclave, the Eva Menz showroom is a hidden bijoux boutique that plays host to an exceptional theatrical collection of bespoke chandeliers. While only a few chandeliers are on display, those that are have ample room to express their elegant ambiance and impeccable craftsmanship. Limited only by your imagination, the opportunity to experiment with luxurious treatments, colors, and a unique and unusual range of materials guarantees a chandelier that will capture the ethos of your home. Collaborate on customizing your own magnum opus, or order one of Menz's: either way, once you have one, I'm sure you'll subscribe to the philosophy that an Eva Menz is a home necessity.
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Handmade crystal glass pieces are hung from delicate steel wire (left), vintage and replica costume jewelry brooches linked by vintage brass chains (center), and carved cow bones and reclaimed wood (right)--some of the many chandelier materials available at the Eva Menz boutique. Visit www.evamenz.com for more details. |
A few very different doors down from Menz's comparatively modern marvels, I was delighted to stumble upon this timeless gallery par excellence. A flourishing dealer devoted to ancient icons, the Temple Gallery has developed a faithful following among Byzantine collectors. With sacred art as his raison d'être, and as a key figure in the world of Byzantine art, Richard Temple's passion has turned his Notting Hill shop into a superb cultural institution filled with museum masterpieces. Fascinating and essential to view, it's not surprising that the BBC was there filming while I was contemplating the collection.
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| Detail of a Greek 17th century tempura and gesso wood painting of the Archangel Michael (left); an early 17th century double-sided panel from Greece made of tempura, gold leaf and gesso on wood (center); and a 17th century gilded panel of St. John the Baptist from Russia (right). www.thetemplegallery.com |
Fancy a Fornasetti? In the mood for some postwar-itude? A gallery hop across the jazz-jiving Portobello Road will land you on the door step of one of Westborne Grove's trendiest Galleries: Themes and Variations. Featuring 20th and 21st century designer furnishings, this bright and contemporary gallery-esque space is a veritable visual indulgence for lovers of bold and daring design. Don't miss it!
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| A striking red lacquered and gold leaf 'Gran Coromandel' Trumeau (left) and a playful Lux GStaad Chair (right) by Fornasetti. Both in showroom and available at www.themesandvariations.com |
Recently reopened, Tribal Gathering, boasts an impressive exhibition space that houses rare anthropological eclectibles and impeccable artistic expressions from tribal Africa. In the market for a Makonde mask, an Ethiopian ceremonial drum, a Waligi valley war shield, or a Sudanese beaded apron? Tuck your passport away and look no further. A trip to Tribal Gathering guarantees to cure your exotic wanderlust on the dreariest of London days and always tempts with fabulous, one of a kind, souvenirs.
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| A mid-19th century Ethiopian ceremonial chair that Gurage noblemen used as a symbol of wealth (left); a 19th century Ethiopian ceremonial drum (top center); a decorative Somali headrest (bottom center); and a small wooden Lega Mask (right)--each a demonstration of the superb tribal treasures that can be found at the Tribal Gathering. Visit www.tribalgatheringlondon.com for details. |
Jimmie Martin is an interiors rock star retailing on the edge of Kensington Church Street's traditional antique artery. It doesn't dare to be different, it just is, and for that reason I had to cha cha over and ex-explore. The furnishings are refreshingly unconventional and boldly expressive--lacquered baroque bones are graffitied with moody, rebellious, and poetic statements redolent of an edgy rock and roll spirit that confronts its audience beneath the textbook lens of traditional beauty. My favorite was the seven sins dining set, each seat hedonistically defined by its own deadly sin, and the nostalgic 'ode to the ex' armchairs, which pulse voice and personality. If you had a Jimmie Martin, what would yours say?
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| Every piece is a statement piece at Jimmie Martin. Here, a handsome and beautifully made armchair redefines the dreaded break-up note with a glamorous savoir-farewell. Personalize your own break-up, make-up, or statement piece at www.jimmiemartin.co.uk and rock & roll! |
Yours truly,
The i-Aficionado
The i-Aficionado
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