Journal
Stark minimalism is taken to the nth degree at this Osaka hair salon. Continuing the trend for hairdressers you could easily mistake for art galleries; this little treasure - located sans façade on the second floor of a building in the city's...
Switzerland
The owner of Chesa Wazzau, Christian Kueenzi, talks about the first time he came across the place as though it was an epiphany. “About 30 years ago I was standing in the barn completely by chance. I hadn’t even set foot in the house and already...
Journal
* Please note: Catch has now closed. Catch possesses an invigorating mix of old and new. Baroque framed mirrors, and stained glass windows grace the walls of the restaurant, black chalkboards and large jars of preserved goods continue the olde...
London
Did you know that long before table tennis got serious and became an Olympic sport, it was called ping-pong (well, you knew that) and was being played as an after-dinner parlour game from the 1880s? You do now. I don't know how it could possibly do...
Biarritz
What catches your attention as soon as you step inside this hotel is the fragrance from the fresh flowers, and scented candles, adorning the large reception area. There's a warmth - like a home from home - and immediately you feel relaxed. The...
United States
Making wine in California. As ways to earn a living go, it would make all but the most devout tee-totaller's wish list, and when you add in one of the most aesthetically pleasing locations we've seen... well let's just say a change of vocation is...
Beijing
As Swire Hotels prepare to open their latest design-led, art-filled spectacle - EAST, Beijing - we've partnered with them, and the chain's very own culture and design blog You'd Be Much Better Here, to celebrate their portfolio of jaw-dropping Far...
Journal
The developers of The Movement Café, Greenwich, were so keen to have it finished before the Olympics began that they managed to get the whole building up in 16 days. The Cathedral Group's self-imposed deadline was an effort to spare visiting fans...
San Diego
There's something softly psychedelic about the colours, lighting, mirrors and wonderment at W San Diego – the beneficiary of a $5 million refurb by Mister Important Design, whose brilliant Chambers Eat and Drink we fell in love with last year. MID...
Patagonia
The great thing about building a hotel in a UNESCO-protected national park is that you're already 90% there before you've stuck a shovel in the ground. There can't be many more spectacular views for guests to marvel at than those offered by the...
Hvar
Being a Croatia virgin I was pleased when a hotel massage therapist pointed out just where my husband and I should be hanging out. He said it was our energy, I say it was our tribal tattoos that tipped him off. But nonetheless he was spot on when he...
Mexico City
The atmosphere hits you before you even walk in. The studded front doors of the Downtown Mexico hotel look like the kind a besieged El Jefe might have hidden behind as a thousand bullets tore through the air. The only blood likely to be drawn at...
City Notes
“A masterclass in conceptuality,” a hotel that “takes you on a fuzzy trip of vague recollection,” and “a paradise of inimitable escapism.” That’s what we said about Port de Sóller’s impressive Bikini Island & Mountain Hotel three...
City Notes
Hidden in the quiet heart of rural Spain, La Torre del Visco Hotel offers unrivalled luxury and adventures walking in a shepherd’s footsteps across the ancient Aragonese landscape that once inspired Picasso… In the early 20th century,...
City Notes
The world’s first StandardX hotel has opened in Fitzroy, Melbourne, the offshoot of the renowned global The Standard hotels, officially touted as the brand’s “rebellious younger sibling” with an offering of “intuitive hospitality without...
Stuff Crush
See captivating, never-before-published photographs of 1970s and '80s USA cultural hotspots including New York City, San Francisco, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Miami Beach and more in Street Walker, a new publication from revered street photographer and...
Dispatches
Stand-up comedy has given several up-and-coming performers their way from the legends. Examples of famous stand-up comedians who honed in their craft for success at top comedy clubs are Richard Pryor, Steve Martin, Bill Burr, Chris Rock, Taylor...
Dispatches
The purpose of nursing homes is to provide older people at risk with the care and attention they require in a secure setting. For some residents, however, the truth is unsettling: abuse by doctors and other medical professionals. Nursing home...
Dispatches
China, the United States of America, and Japan do it again, the three powerhouses ranking 1st, 2nd and 3rd for the fourth consecutive year in the A’ Design Awards' World Design Rankings. Using a slick methodology for ranking countries, the...
Dispatches
It's important to pick the right company to clean your air ducts so that your home stays healthy and safe. When your air ducts are clean, the air quality inside your home is better, which is good for everyone's health. But how do you choose which...