Hotel Condesa interiors - Mexico City*

On a trip to Mexico City a few weeks back I went for a drink at Hotel Condesa. It's an uncompromisingly modern hotel in aesthetic - so maybe you would expect it to feel cold or 'designed'. It didn't and this is where it's success lies. It felt homely despite all the clean lines. I loved the warm wooden furniture against turquiose walls. The choice of bold painted coloured wall seemed fitting for Mexico City. I found out talking to the owner that the hotel was designed by India Mahdavi - an interior designer with the skill to design in strikingly contrasting styles and worthy of a blog entry all to herself.

SIS Deli and Cafe, Helsinki*

On a recent frosty and snowy client trip to Helsinki I was lucky enough to have a coffee at SIS Deli and Cafe. Now I am generally not a sucker for branding but the graphic interiors of this place make you want to buy coffee from here. The interiors were designed by some clever people at Finnish firm Muotohiomo. The interiors and very cool [white glazed metro tiles, sans serif vinyl lettering on the windows] and warm, with beautiful wood detailing throughout. There are some cute retro touches too with weighing scales and other vintage pieces. I suppose the best thing though are the checks, carried through the interior and onto the takeaway cups. It's like wrapping a big warm Finnish blanket around you on a cold, snowy day.

Casa Luis Barragan*

This week has been a bit mad. Yesterday I was in Mexico City working on a project, basking in the sun. Today, I'm home, it's minus 5 and snowing in London. What I noticed on arrival in Mexico City was the light - everything looks technicolour compared to London. I was lucky enough to visit Casa Luis Barragan, a lifelong ambition. I admire him because he didn't just design his interiors in the International Style. He took modernism and used it to reflect his heritage - most notably combining vivid Mexican pinks, ochres, yellows and blues with clean architectural lines and vast glazing. I am very very happy I came here.

Wine store made from wine crates*

I like simple design. Like this wine store in Zurich made from wine crates. The Albert Reichuth Wine Store by OSS architects.

Warm Scandi interior*

Some Scandinavean inspiration on this dark London November night - i reackon i could get this to work in my 3 bed west london roomy terrace. I love the warm colours mixed with purple. The house is featured in Dec's Elle Decoration.

My new design hero - Kathryn Tyler*

+ Most days are good but not massively inspirational. You don't often see something that makes you stop and think. Last week's episode of Grand Designs stopped me mid brew and Penguin biscuit to watch, mouth agape for the next 60mins. Kathryn Tyler has designed my dream house and project managed it into reality. And she has a stunning interior design business under her belt...at age 30. Her Scandinavian aesthetic mixed with warm Mid Century modernism is beautiful. I have a new design hero+

Scandi chairs for my new house*

We've been almost three months in our new house and so far the only 'work' I've done is painted the walls white. All of them! There is no hurry, this is my project, and I love it for that. I saw a beautiful Hans Wegner teak chair yesteday. This could be the start point for our kitchen. Or maybe a Scandia junior chair in walnut. Both feel really contemporary and warm and so a good place to start.

What is a design classic?*

This Brown Betty teapot makes me happy. There is so much talk of 'design classics'. I think this piece of happiness for £9.99 is one of them.

Ye Olde Bell*

I have paid lots of money to stay in 'design hotels' recently, and it got me thinking - we pay hundreds of euros, and get rooms designed as 'concepts' - they look ok, cost loads, have a toilet behind a half height frosted screen in the bedroom [Hi Hotel, Nice - don't go there!] but where is the comfy quilt, the open fire, the cosiness? It almost makes me hanker after some old school chintz...kinda. That way, you feel spoiled, comfy, at home [while being away and without all the laundry...]. I have seen photos of Isle Crawford's new design for Ye Olde Bell and it's top of my wishlist of stay places. It seems like the perfect autumnal or winter place to stay. The style is British - cosy - cool - country - bolthole. You can have a bath in a rolltop and then jump into bed with grey wool and Melin Tregwynt throws. Then spend the night reading from the Penguin Classics library at an open fire. If you don't see me one weekend, it's because I've got lost in this place.

Heritage at trincket*

What do you think of when you say heritage? Here are some bedrooms just for starters.

British Isles type map*

Just bagged an original print for my new house - it's by a talented design duo called Bold and Noble. It 's gonna sit perfectly in my 'guest room' [how grown up]. The slate grey colour reminds of home in Wales.

London Design Festival*

London Design Festival this weekend - gotta go, gotta go, gotta go. If you only go to one thing go to The Tramshed on Rivington Street., yum

Interiors - revolution on the high street*

Who's a fan of chain restaurants? Not moi. Thing is, I've found myself in Zizzi's a few times and I've noticed they do actually commission lovely interiors that push the mark. Zizzi's Winchester is stunning. Some clever person has commissioned black and white graphic murals by Camille Rousseau. The home spun, hand drawn aesthestic is not just amazing to look at - it's a sign of our recessionary times. No one wants to eat their penne pasta surrounded by bling anymore? Not me.

If a storage unit looked like my collection of stripey jumpers it would be this one. If fact I could put one of my stripey jumpers in each drawer! It's by Montana storage system, by Icons of Denmark.

French trincket*

Just had my holiday in Provence. It occurred to me while looking through the lens that it's like a big old Farrow and Ball paint catalogue. Luckily I love Farrow and Ball.

trincket summer*

ok, i know it's probably because i'm just back from a two-weeks holiday in france and italy, but how good does this modernist beach house look? i'm hanging onto the summer by my fingers.

The Morumbi Residence by Drucker Arquitetura.

50's inspired chairs*

These new 50's inspired chairs for my new house please! Jens Risom chairs for Benchmark, rocketgallery.