During a reading project I undertook to better understand the “third wave of democracy” — the remarkable and rapid rise of democracies in Latin America, Asia, Europe and Africa in the 1970s and 80s — I came to realize that this ascendency of democratic polities was not the result of some force propelling history toward its natural, final state, as some scholars have argued.
WHEN WE wrote about our holiday table setting inspiration featuring ribbon bows (with a little design history included), we had no idea just how many areas⏤from fashion to food and more⏤the bow (define as a specific decorative arrangement of material such as satin, organza, silk) has been adorning.

OUR FIRST Christmas film this year wasn't actually one of our usual old favourites (Christmas Vacation for P, The Holiday for me⏤although we've seen them both so much now that we mainly put them on as background ambience), but The Holdovers...
MAYFAIR was our last Life Lately, at the beginning of October, and it was all beautifully laid out in wide-screen format⏤best viewed on a desktop⏤but now more of you are here via your phones, so we’ll make this one (which is actually in two parts) a single layout to fit your screens while you’re out and about.
IT WAS THE champagne coupes tied in lengths of black ribbon (below) that first caught our eye while searching Pinterest for table setting inspiration for the holidays. For interest, we thought we'd provide a brief history of the ribbon bow to go along with these beautiful images of tabletop inspiration for your upcoming holiday soirées or any dinner party really.
Leo Costelloe (b.1993) is an Irish-Australian artist and accessories designer living and working in London. Costelloe graduated from Central Saint Martins with a BA (Hons) in Jewellery Design and works natural materials such as glass, shells, and silver.
WE'LL BE the first to admit that this first instalment of our TIG Holiday Gift Guide is more like a personal shopping list of the things we've been coveting (such as the beautiful electric bicycle made in Brooklyn and the Céline Fair Isle jersey) rather than a straight-up gift guide.
WE ARE BACK with our Design History series, and this week, we’re taking a closer look at an essential material in modern manufacturing and construction: stainless steel.
I AM ONLY vaugely aware of the enduring debate of multicoloured vs. white holiday lights. I say vaugely, because at our place, it’s always elegant white lights, with no debate.
DESIGN
Stephen Sills Associates arose from Sills Huniford Associates (the pair parted ways in 2008), a prolific design studio that was in operation for over 25 years. Stephan Sills now runs his own firm and is an insanely talented decorator with undeniably exquisite taste.
RECENTLY ON INSTAGRAM, we posted an English countryside cottage (above) that captured the imaginations of thousands. Many of you asked if it was the cottage from the 2006 Nancy Meyers film, The Holiday. It is not (although there are similarities), as Rosehill Cottage from The Holiday sadly doesn't exist, its exterior built from scratch in an empty field on a hillside overlooking the town of Shere.
SHOP
New Canvas Totes
The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.
Pablo Picasso
So far in our Moving To series, we have covered beautiful towns in both Spain and France with Toledo and Versailles respectively. This week, we are taking a look at a town in Italy. It is not an exaggeration to say that the country is spoiled for choice when it comes to stunning places. From the rolling hills of Tuscany to the dramatic coastline of the Amalfi Coast, Italy offers an endless array of picturesque towns and cities that capture the country’s unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty.
Last week, in our new series, Moving To, we looked at the charming town of Versailles, just outside of the French capital. This week, we are looking at another beautiful town, only a short distance from Spain's exciting capital, Madrid. Just 70 km south of the capital, Toledo is known as the "City of Three Cultures" due to its rich history of Muslim, Jewish, and Christian influence. Using the high-speed train, you can go from Toledo to Madrid in just over an half hour.
Technology and globalisation have made it easier to relocate anywhere in the world than ever before. In our new series Imagine Yourself In, we will be exploring new towns and off-the-beaten-path finds around the world. Whether you’re looking for a change of scenery, a slower pace of life, or just a new place to call home, there’s an endless list of destinations waiting to be discovered.
WE ARE BACK with our Design History series, and this week, we’re taking a closer look at an essential material in modern manufacturing and construction: stainless steel.
10 Images With: Christiane Lemieux
@christianelemieux
THIS INSTALMENT of 10 IMAGES features the work of Christiane Lemieux, a Canadian-born entrepreneur, and interior and housegoods designer who also lists Photographer, Artist, Art Advisor, Author, and Founder of LEMIEUX ET CIE (a brand she launched in London in 2010) on her bio.
WE GAVE a small glimpse into the London home of designer Rose Uniacke in November of last year, as well as a look at some of her work the following month. This month, coinciding with the recent release of her latest book, Wallpaper magazine featured more of the designer’s Warwick Square home.
WE RECENTLY wrote about Notting Hill and by coincidence, came across this incredible flat for rent in Blenheim Crescent, right on the doorstep of Portobello Road, which means shopping for antiques at Portobello Market and browsing books at the iconic Notting Hill Bookshop.
WE ARE BACK with our Design History series, and this week, we’re taking a closer look at an essential material in modern manufacturing and construction: stainless steel.
10 Images With: Christiane Lemieux
@christianelemieux
THIS INSTALMENT of 10 IMAGES features the work of Christiane Lemieux, a Canadian-born entrepreneur, and interior and housegoods designer who also lists Photographer, Artist, Art Advisor, Author, and Founder of LEMIEUX ET CIE (a brand she launched in London in 2010) on her bio.
WE GAVE a small glimpse into the London home of designer Rose Uniacke in November of last year, as well as a look at some of her work the following month. This month, coinciding with the recent release of her latest book, Wallpaper magazine featured more of the designer’s Warwick Square home.
Happy Holidays
I AM ONLY vaugely aware of the enduring debate of multicoloured vs. white holiday lights. I say vaugely, because at our place, it’s always elegant white lights, with no debate.
WHEN YOU think about holiday decorating, the colour black doesn't normally come to mind. Green and red; and of course, white, are the more obvious choices, for black seems a bit severe and lacking their festive quality at first glance. However, when paired with some gold or greenery ...
IT WAS THE champagne coupes tied in lengths of black ribbon (below) that first caught our eye while searching Pinterest for table setting inspiration for the holidays. For interest, we thought we'd provide a brief history of the ribbon bow to go along with these beautiful images of tabletop inspiration for your upcoming holiday soirées or any dinner party really.
IF YOU’RE lucky enough to have two front doors for your main entrance, make the most of it with two identical wreaths for a dramatic effect…
TWO YEARS ago we introduced you to the beautiful holiday decorating trend of sculptural garlands. The trend is still very much alive today, and here are a selection of our favourites this year, from traditional red and green to red berries and black branches, a beautiful floral arrangement by floral designer Philippa Craddock and more ...
HAPPY DECEMBER! Can you believe that it's already the last month of the year? Feel like 2021 just flew by and don't really know what I did in all this time. Know that had meant to get through more books. I did complete a web design and launch that had been planned long ago, and definitely got a lot of decorating done at the cottage since we've been homebound for the last two years ...
AS PROMISED, the follow-up to Part One, this second instalment is a photo diary of our life lately, turning leaves in Hyde Park, beautiful Mayfair in the rain, the Viewing Poing in Richmond Hill, a festive cheese shop in Bloomsbury, an insanely delicious "luxury donut"...
MAYFAIR was our last Life Lately, at the beginning of October, and it was all beautifully laid out in wide-screen format⏤best viewed on a desktop⏤but now more of you are here via your phones, so we’ll make this one (which is actually in two parts) a single layout to fit your screens while you’re out and about.
Figure Study No.08
$141.00 – $314.00
Figure Study No.06
$34.00 – $223.00
Figure Study No.05 (Ballet Dancer)
$34.00 – $242.00
You & Me ‘Till the End of Time
$39.00 – $210.00