Lovely London Day Out

I was only going to have a quick morning coffee with a friend.
But then I thought while I was in the area I would go to West Elm. The American store opened less than a year ago and I hadn't had the chance  to check out their furniture.  I got their catalog and wanted to see a mid century bar cart with brass legs in person.

I wanted to buy the cardboard white decorations but 
they weren't for sale.   Why is it that half the time
 I just want what isn't for sale in the stores?

The scale of all the items were so big and definitely for American homes as the bar cart was the size of some European dining tables.

We then went next door to Heal's and saw this dog bone bench.
The colorful seating for childern next to it was nice and 
thought it might make nice chairs for parties but 
it didn't carry a child like price tag.

Managed to leave the stores without a purchase and decided that we were hungry and headed to Soho through Bedford Square which at one stage was a new build housing development over a hundred years ago of course.

After lunch we decided to have another quick coffee and general chit chat about life while people watching
at the outside table at the legendary Bar Italia which was made easier with overhead outdoor heating.

The shot of caffeine would have been wasted going home so we decided to head to the Moroni exhibition at the Royal Academy 
but en route decided to check out the latest addition to the 
Firmdale group of hotels - the Ham Yard Hotel.

If you haven't been - run don't walk.

As with most hotels of this group they tend to have a comfy library area with an honesty bar.

The owner of the hotel group Kit Kemp is also an interior designer so she always add her own touch to the decor. The ikat lamp shade for the library ladder floor lamp is fun.

The other side of the library is so soothing and 

all the fabrics say relax...

I am not convinced by the fabric on these chairs but
it's fun as long as it's not in my house.

The airy internal windows to a bar area with the vases of flowers in the lobby was a joy to be in.

One of the funnest features of the hotel was this gigantic orange juice squeezer that was two stories high!

The other unique features to the hotel is that it has its own theater!

Perfect for events and its sister hotel in 
Charlotte Street holds Sunday movie nights so this is just continuing that niche but on a larger scale.

But wait for it.

After I was done ogling the Pierre Frey fabric on the walls of another area...

I realized that this was the lounge for the 4 lane bowling alley!
But it is for events and not just a walk in bowling alley.

This was another central lounge with meeting and function rooms off it.

The wallpaper up close.

We got to see the bottom of the orange juice circle spiral.

Some of the areas weren't all to my taste but still fun.

After that detour we finally made it to the Royal Academy.

No pictures were allowed but 
I highly recommend the Moroni exhibition!!

The only picture I got was done by accident outside the Anselm Kiefer exhibition. As it was outside I thought it was allowed but honestly I did not "get" it.

I didn't get these pieces of art deco jewelry either unfortunately.

Nor did I get these art deco pieces such as the light fixture or the cocktail mini cabinet kit.

I walked by all the latest special edition monogram pieces at Louis Vuitton.
The first is the half wooly bag by the acclaimed Marc Newson.

The Cindy Sherman was my least favorite.

The Frank Gehry was interesting though
I wonder how it will sit on a flat surface.

This is the boxing punching bag take by Karl Lagerfeld.  
He must have the most flexible employment contract in the world to be able to do a project for a rival company.

The spikes on this bag was done by Christian Louboutin.

My favorite of the series is this tote bag by Rei Kawakubo 
who is the founder of Comme des Garcons.

I have already seen three of these bags around town and predict that it will be the most copied bag in the counterfeit market.

I had to go home for dinner as I promised Mr CSW 
I would cook so stopped at the store and
saw this gold sequined Xmas tree chocolate box.

Then I walked by the Christmas tree just put up with Santa's grotto where children plead for presents.

This is normally the time of year where I start to seriously consider leaving the U.K.  Days get shorter and colder but it's days like today where I do realize why I haven't left London yet.

So much to do and see!