Opening of an envelope January 16, 2010

Named after a tree common to this region of Asia, Kapok is a little oasis in the middle of urban Hong Kong. Kapok on Sun Street in the back streets of Wan Chai (the hip part, not the sleazy stripper part) had its grand opening party on 14 January 2010, with their store and cafe opening jointly organised with Whitespace Design Studio for the launch of a new stationery line “Greyscale”. 

As I left for the party, a friend remarked I really do go to the ‘opening of an envelope’! I am obsessed with stationary and turns out there is a multitude of urban hipsters who do too, as the place was jumping! Sipping on Vitamin Water and vodkas and noshing on mini cupcakes, the little street was crammed with downtown-type hipsters (if Hong Kong had a downtown that is) browsing the carefully selected items in the store. Kapok’s French founder Arnault Castell wanted to have a place that showcases his treasures from frequent shopping trips abroad and his selection of home ware, candles, skin care, music, books and stationery show a very keen eye for all the pretty things in the world.

I am especially a fan of  anything Letterpress and love the “will you be my Bridesmaid” notecards (if only I had a wedding to plan…sigh). I also love the Maptote cotton environmental shopping bags from the US, which apparently Kapok is helping to design a new Hong Kong style.

New Year, New York, New Nest January 16, 2010

Even though I still haven’t technically seen my new apartment in East Village, NYC…I have been busily buying things on the internet and preparing how I will decorate my new pad (my flatmate Evan is a typical boy…so no, he won’t get a say in it).

I was lucky enough to have some items shipped over, thanks to my flatmates company relocation, including my large vintage chaise lounge in orange (scored this one for free off Asia Expat). I am more of a black and white type decorator, so this will be fun having such a large colourful item prominent in the living room.

Some more of my wonderful finds include:

• Ikea Expedit TV Unit retails for $229, bought off Craigslist $100

This is the perfect unit for me, as an entertainment system has to take centre stage for any apartment I live in (as well my flatmate Evan who is equally as much of a movie, tv and sports fan as myself). Adding to that, no matter where I am I end up collecting a vast array of books and magazines, so I need book-case slots a plenty, which this system has! With such small spaces in NY, I am hoping this unit will serve it’d double duty well.

Of course with the lovely box design, there is also space to display some lovely trinkets, such as:

• Iitala Kivi red tea light holders (flying the Finnish flag, as this is one of their cult design brands) $15 each from Just Scandinavia in Tribeca
• Red 70′s Ericophone purchased at Aluminium in Hong Kong for $HK500
• Kate Moss: Style by Angela Buttolph coffee table book $23 on Amazon
• Essendon Bombers scarf, had since I was 12 (Australian AFL team)

As for the rest of the room, keeping it simple and mainly black to offset the orange couch.

• Ikea Faborg 100% wool low-pile rug in black, retails $199, bought off Craigslist $100
• Ikea Lycksele Havet sofa bed chair, with black corduroy cover. This little gem was incredibly useful in Hong Kong and I’m sure in NYC there will be even more need for it. It’s a very comfy chair, but then when out-of-town guests arrive, it transforms into a fold out single bed. Very convenient in no-space apartments of Hong Kong and New York! Retails for $269
• Campari vintage ad poster, $10 on Allposters.com
• Houston and Hudson Subway Terminal poster framed, $70 on Allposters.com
• Michael Kors Astor Tokyo decorative pillows, $34 on ideeli.com reduced from $190

Kitchen is tiny (even by NY standards) so not much I can do here. Luckily it is outfitted with nice black fridge, oven and microwave. I have only added:

• Dala horse mugs in Orange $6 each from Out of Scandinavia Ebay store
• Ikea serving platter, 3 tiers. $15. This will be perfect for serving up desserts, which I am prone to do
• Dabney Lee at Home recipe box with monogrammed and lined recipe cards. Ordered the “Damask Moderne” print with “Nolita” name plate in Tangerine. $80 online. Not the cheapest buy, but I love all of Dabney Lee’s things and I am obsessed with recipe boxes, so this was a small treat
• Retro black and white cat salt and pepper shakers. Bought in Hong Kong urban hipster furniture store G.O.D

http://www.allposters.com/

http://www.justscandinavian.com/

http://stores.ebay.com/OUT-OF-SCANDINAVIA

http://www.ideeli.com/closed

http://www.dabneyleeathome.com/

http://www.god.com.hk/index.php

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/