hotels

Retro realness at the TWA Hotel



TWA Hotel David Mitchell

Gotta love the kitschness of the new TWA Hotel rooms.

Designed by New York City firm Stonehill Taylor, they boast Knoll furniture, rotary phones, special TWA toiletries, and custom-built not-so-mini bars stocked with Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut Champagne, Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège Cognac and Belvedere Vodka (can of Tab not included).

Plus a view onto JFK’s runways and the historic TWA Flight Centre. (more…)



WHERE TO STAY IN ANTWERP: BOULEVARD LEOPOLD



Boulevard-Leopold-Antwerp-Hotel

Three nights in Antwerp – where to stay? A overpriced fancy hotel in the centre of town, a cheap but unpredictable Airbnb, or something more unique – like Boulevard Leopold?

We chose the latter on recommendation by good friends. A handsome 19th century townhouse in the Jewish quarter, it’s billed as a B&B, but it’s not your average Formica-and-nets affair. (more…)



The DRG Antwerp shopping guide



T Koetshuish Antweerp vintage store

I had a very naughty start to the year, choosing to bunk off LCM and go on holiday instead. Tsk indeed! I definitely recommend it though. We picked Antwerp for our city break, our flight was half empty and the three days dawdled by at a pleasantly snail-like pace. We went with no great plans other than to mooch around flea markets, eat moules and just enjoy some we-time. OK, we didn’t have much luck on the flea market front but I did discover a wealth of brocante vendors, vintage boutiques and fancy goods emporia to satisfy my shopaholic tendencies. Here then, is my DRG shopping guide to Antwerp…

DE KLOOSTERSTRAAT
I advise catching the early Friday flight from City airport so you arrive with a whole day stretched out ahead. Taxis are a bit of a faff in Antwerp so we decided to do everything on foot, taking the scenic route from our posh B&B (the beautiful BOULEVARD LEOPOLD, separate post coming soon) in the Jewish quarter. (more…)



London life: Artist Residence Hotel, Pimlico



1 Artist Residence Hotel London 3c

If you loved the glimpse of the Artist Residence Hotel I shot in recently (with Vanessa Jackman), here’s everything you need to know about it. Located in London’s genteel Pimlico, it’s the third in a trio of homely residences that feel more like a home away from home than a glam-but-impersonal hotel. The original Artist Residence was born in Brighton in 2008, followed three years later by Penzance. What they share is a mix of heritage-y reclaimed furnishings and fittings with artworks from up and coming talent and a laid back ambience. (more…)