Visionofsplendor - Vision Of Splendor

Cabin Fever

Snow Cabin via Sister Himalaya

Winter Home via Architectural Digest

Modern Mountain home via Pinterest

Rustic Bathroom via Pinterest

The Peak of Rustic Chic Idaho via Elle Decor

Rustic Bathroom via Sisson Designs

Jackson Hole , Wyoming via Elle Decor

Le Chalet Chatel via Les Fermes de Marie

Wild White Horses via Sister Himalaya

Chalet Table scape via Pinterest

Fairy Trees in The Snow Via Pinterest

Am off to the Swiss Alps for a couple of days to enjoy some Nature and fresh Air, can't wait after 2 months in the city.

Yodel Away xo

Acrylicious

 Modern Acrylic Designs by Alexandra von Furstenberg

1970's Lucite Game Table via 1stDibds

Pair of 1950's Lucite and Wood End Tables via VandM

Lucite X Chair with Clint Greggory Cushion via VandM

Triangle Lucite Lamp with Zebra Shade by Clint Greggory via VandM

Set of Albrizzi Ice Buckets via VandM

1960's Lucite and Black Patent Leather Dinette Set via 1stDibs

Shades of red and pink Screens by Emmanuelle Moureaux

Kodachi Aroma Sticks Stand by Emmanuelle Moureaux

"There Is No Chair"  Red Chair Quan via Jia Moderne

1970's Italian Lucite Candle Holders via 1stDibs

Acrylic , there seems to be so many different types of names for this plastic , Lucite being my favourite,  something to do with the quality and colouring and how wears with time, that is why I leave the technical data to the experts.

What I do know is that here are so many beautiful ways to use this material as shown above, I always like Lucite/Acrylic for its light but yet durable quality. The way it reflects light and seems to be complimentary to finishes like brass, leather , wood to name a few, or Just with bold colours that offset strong lines in a modern design. It inspires me, maybe ill contact one of these designers to customize something for me.

Plastic is fantastic xo

Resources.

www.alexandravonfurstenberg.com

www.1stdibs.com

www.emmauelle.jp

www.jiamoderne.com

www.vandm.com

NEW SITE FOR VISION OF SPLENDOR

Photo by Vision of Splendor Miami January 2014

Vision of Splendor has a new site! 

Will keep this tumblr site but content will change in the future, but for upgraded version go to the new site below. 

Follow me there xo

www.visionofsplendor.com

"DEMON CHEF" ALVIN LEUNG'S X-TREME CHINESE CUISINE..

HIS TWO MICHELIN STAR HONG KONG RESTAURANT BO IS OPENING IN LONDON'S MAYFAIR IN DECEMBER. NOW THAT WILL BE AN EXPERIENCE!

VIDEO BY RYAN HOPKINSON ON NOWNESS

The Imagination of Eva Menz

Born and Raised in Munich Germany Eva Menz chandeliers and installations are out of this world. Pieces can are customized in different sizes and materials to best suit your space. Crystal waterfalls and birds flying into the sky all with names like Free as Bird , Galaxy and Vortex, her work is unique and ethereal.

Trained at the Prestigious Central Saint Martins in London, Eva has accomplished a spectacular portfolio of work. Now I just need to find a bigger home to fit one of the pieces or hang one outside of my building if all else fails.

You can find her workshop in Notting Hill, or Browse her website to see more of her designs in different spaces such as Hotels, Restaurants , Yachts and private homes.

Let there be light xo

Eva Menz Design

10 Claredon Cross

London , W11 4AP

Tel +44 (0)20 7243 8292

www.evamenz.com

Totally Crazy for Elise Dray

Bo Goia Dragon Earring in White gold, White, Grey & Black diamonds.

Bo Aigle Earrings, White Gold and White & Black Diamonds.

Hypocampe Ring , Black gold, Grey & Black Diamonds.

Bracelet Black Leaf, White Gold , White Diamonds & Onyx.

Bague Siamoise, Black Gold, White & Black Diamonds & Blue Sapphires.

Bracelet Peace Flower, White Gold & Black Diamonds.

Bague Hibou, Black Gold , Onyx , Black Diamonds & Rubies.

Bague Muguet, Black Gold , Black Diamonds & Red Sapphires.

Collier Aigle. Yellow Gold, Black & White Diamonds.

Bo Feuille de Latanier Earrings, Yellow Gold, Tigers Eye and White Diamonds.

Bague Serpentine, Rose Golds and Brown & Black Diamonds.

Bo Leaf Earrings, Yellow Gold, Malachite & White Diamonds.

Bague Papillion, Rose Gold & White Diamonds.

Bague Hippie Croix , Yellow Gold & White Diamonds.

As I was browsing for jewellery to drool over I stumbled upon a piece that made me blink a couple of times in rapid succession. What was this ? A Dragon Earring made of Black and White Diamonds.

I quickly researched this genius designer and fell totally in love with the world of Elise Day. Dragons, Wings, Leafs, Serpents, the Mythical World,  are some of her subjects for her pieces, yes we have seen some of these used before but the design is done in such a clever and beautiful way that I had such a hard time picking a few to chose for this post.

Based out of Paris her shop is located in 7 Rue de La Paix, How come I never saw it before! How wonderful to find someone as unique as her. Can't believe no one stocks her here in London and only one shop in the US.

Get on her website to see even more choice,

J'Adore Elise Dray xo

All Photos via www.elisedray.com

SURFING ON ART

Into the Waves, found via Pinterest.

Border Lines in Collaboration with Stephen Bowers

Trio Back

Matthew McConaughey's Airstream via Architectual Digest Photo by Jim McHugh

Paulownia Planing Hull in Collaboration with Gerry Wedd

Paulownia Planing Hull Detail in Collaboration with Gerry Wedd

California Surf Mobile via Pinterest

Paisley in Collaboration with Quentin Gore

Paisley Detail in Collaboration with Quentin Gore

1969, LeRoy Grannis surfing Hermosa Beach . Photograph © LeRoy Grannis.  All rights reserved. via The Selvedge Yard

Swastika 

 Floral Fish, One True Religion & Gun 

Vintage Surf Shop Via Tumblr

Burnt Fish

Burnt Fish Detail

Paddle back to your boat and spot the little shark, sadly no credit. Found on Pinterest via Roxy Europe. 

Finless Double Ender

Finless Double Ender Detail

1966 Iconic Documentary Surfing  film by Bruce Brown

Smoker

Antipodean Willow Mini Simmons in Collaboration with Stephen Bowers

Magic Sunset Ride, makes me think of Dreamland. 

"Out of The Water, I am Nothing" Duke Kahanamoku

One day I was walking on the street and I saw poster with the most vibrant colours with silhouettes of  men carrying surf boards and written across were the words "The Endless Summer ". I have such a passion when it comes to anything to do with the water, beach or sun that  I got the poster to put on my bedroom wall at school and  then rented the film. I was mesmerised and that was how my love for surfing began. The very funny thing is I do not know how to surf ( I did a little windsurfing) but that does not matter to me, I love the culture of it, the life, being in tune with the ocean riding those waves. It is so beautiful to watch, my favourite place to go and take it all in used to be a spectacular beach in Bali called Dreamland,  as it was perfectly named by the surfers. Sadly this magnificent beach was destroyed by the Indonesian Government but that is another story.

Back to present day I stumbled across the most beautiful image of a surf  board. I was not sure if it was a board or a piece of art, but had to find out who made this beauty.

Walker Surfboards designed and handmade by Artist Peter Walker in Adelaide Australia. He began his impressive career at The Tasmanian School of Art and worked in his own studio in Tasmania for 14 years . Then moved  to Adelaide to head the Furniture Design Studio at the JamFactory Craft & Design Centre. In between and after he headed so many departments that I cant keep track, including 10 years as Associate Professor of Furniture Design at the Rhode Island School of Design in the USA. The list is endless, obviously a very talented man. Combining his other real passion of surfing  with his artistic talents he produced this beautiful line of unique surfboards and collaborating on some with renowned artists Stephen Bowers,Quentin Gore and Gerry Wedd.

I love them, one day I will get one , need to find  a place to put it maybe its time to move to the beach or walk around London with one, now that would be a funny sight. 

I have included some links to articles about Peter and there is also more technical information, board designs & how to order on the site. You must buy one now! 

All Walker Boards Photographs by Grant Hancock, courtesy of Peter Walker,

Other images sadly were on the internet without credit.

Walker Surfboards

Further Reading ,

The Age Article 

Megadelux Article 

Guido Mocafico

Lampropeltis getula nigrita

Roses

Boiga dendrophila melanota

Nature Morte aux Huîtres

Vipera Wagneri

Audemars Piguet Tourbillon répétition minutes squelette

Dendroaspis viridis

Salmopoeus irminia

Naja nigricollis

Bouquet de tulipes

Vipera aspis

Smith & Wesson 44 magnum

Vipera Ammodytes

Snakes, Guns, Spiders are not my favourite things in the world. Would not want to be at close range with any of these things. Flowers, food and watches on the other hand  are always part of my life. Guido Mocafico does convert my terrified view into one of beauty and awe, nature dangerous as it may be is designed to perfection just as a gun can be admired of its incredible craftsmanship. Not sure if I would hang some of these images in my bedroom but anywhere else the visual impact they make is mesmerizing.

Hypnotic xo

GUIDO MOCAFICO Italian, born in Switzerland in 1962, lives in Switzerland and works in Paris. Guido Mocafico studied Photography at Vevey school in Switzerland. Specialized in still life photography, his most recent images are published in magazines such as Numéro, Numéro Homme, Paradis, V Mag, Vogue US, Vogue France, Men’s Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, The Face, Wallpaper He works for major brands such as Gucci, Chanel, Clarins, Shiseido, YSL, Clinique, Dior, Bvlgari, Armani, Hermès. Alongside his commercial and advertising activities, Guido Mocafico has developed a series of long-term personal projects, destined to be published in books and shown as exhibitions.

His work can be found at the following Galleries,

Hamiltons Gallery 13 Carlos place London W1 K 2 EU U.K. T / 020 7499 9493/4 www.hamiltonsgallery.com

BERNHEIMER FINE OLD MASTERS E.K. BU Fine Art Photography Brienner Str. 7 80333 Munich Germany T / +49-89-226672 www.bernheimer.com

All photos sourced via,

www.guidomocafico.com

Uxua Casa Hotel

Last April my brother got married in Sao Paulo to my lovely Brazilian sister in-law. Thanks to this wonderful union, we got a chance to come to beautiful Trancoso and stay at the incredible Uxua Casa Hotel where my brother and his wife got engaged.

This is not your average hotel, its an Oasis of Tropical Splendor, little casas dotted around the grounds and out on the Quadrado, Tancoso's 16th Century town green.The attention to detail is heavenly, everything is made by local artisans, the staff are warm, friendly and happy. We had most of the hotel to ourselves so it felt as we were all living there, it has such a magical and seducing quality and none of us wanted leave.

Uxua is a labor of love and you feel it, an unforgettable experience and I hope to return very soon.

All pictures via Uxua except picture 11 which is taken by me on Uxua beach.

The website is also fantastic, am sure you will be seduced,

www.uxua.com

Swimming Pools II

California Bernard Trainor Architect

Ibiza Antonio & Ignacio Saorin

Morocco Jaouad Kadiri

Washington DC Thomas Pheasant

Napa Valley Pool Pavillion Tom Leader Studio

Mexico Michael Schaieble

Nantucket Karin Blake

Formentera Jordi Canosa

Florianopolis Carlos Miele

Trancoso Daniela Oliviera

Hamptons Tim Whealon

Jamaica Ralph & Ricky Lauren

Formentera II Jordi Canosa

Tropical Island Simon Upton

Venezuela Fernando Arriaga

Lebanon Pool of Elie Saab Design by Chakib Richani

Summertime is here and what is more beautiful than having a great pool to spend it in. I can only dream that one day I will have  my own house with a gorgeous garden and pool.

In the meantime I can only sit and look at these and get inspiration until the real thing.

Dream Away xo

Photos sourced via,

www.elledecor.com

www.architecturaldigest.com

www.jordicanosa.com