Fountains and florals

What a marvellously sunny day it’s been. Very unexpected for the time of year and almost warm enough to swim Brideshead-style in a fountain. I’ve already mentioned the incredible Brihi-Riachi wedding that I attended in the South of France a few weeks ago, but I thought you might like to see the beautiful floral arrangements … and the fabulous display of fountains.

Villa Ephrussi overlooks the bay of Villefranche, but it’s on a headland giving spectacular views out across the water in two different directions. The website says that ‘nine heavenly gardens are adorned with patios, fountains, ponds, flowered and shaded paths.’ There was also a sculpture exhibition on at the time, by an artist called Nathalie Decoster. Her sculptures of man and nature depict ‘souls balancing on the edge of time’ and lead us to question the headlong rush of modern life and ‘focus anew on the essential values of life’.

We arrived in this picture of perfection with its large calm and still pools of candlelit water, to strains of a jazz saxophonist and the distant popping of champagne corks. As guests were still arriving, I managed to take a few snaps – but, when modern life allows, I’d rather like to return and take some time looking around the gardens properly.

I walked through the stylishly set tables with their designer floral decorations to the main house, where I popped in to visit the ladies powder room (shame the French still haven’t mastered the luxury loo) – and when I returned everyone was saying “you missed the fountains!”

A wonder of gushing and burbling water had spluttered into life in my absence and enormous arcs of refreshing water were now dancing before me.

Ross mistook this for champagne.

Influenced by Ms Decoster’s curious creations, I took a moment to reflect on ‘man’s unequal struggle with time’. Yes, this is a location far from the realities of everyday existence where one can easily escape into a place that ‘hovers somewhere between lightness and awareness’. Better zip back to frenzied, fast-paced London life and get on with some work so I can afford to spend another moment in horticulturalists’ heaven.

You might even be inspired by our stylish floral designer vintage fashion to buy something beautifully unique from ShopCurious and help towards my next trip.

Will you?

Blushing bride

I recently attended a fabulous wedding in Beaulieu-sur-Mer. The reception was held in a spectacular pink palazzo: Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. The gardens are simply stunning and make for one of the most romantic settings for a wedding party in the world.













Needless to say, I got a bit over excited (hence camera happy) and seem to have accumulated rather a lot of snaps (curiously, dozens of fountains - of which more later...) I'll spare the bride, groom and their families any blushes by not publishing any private photos of the very special and highly memorable occasion. But here's a curious phenomenon: with the arrival of dusk and and then darkness, the photographs from my camera became increasingly pink as the event progressed.


























I think this may have been something to do the misuse of my camera rather than any strangely original lighting, or could it have had something to do with all that champagne ... was it pink? The resulting effect is curiously exotic. Talking of curious exotica, if you're a lover of unique accessories, we have some quirky new designer bags at ShopCurious. They're by Timmy Woods of Beverly Hills and have wonderfully stylish tropical flower designs carved and handpainted onto acacia wood. They might even come in handy if you're looking to make a fashion statement at a wedding - or even as a luxury gift.



Whilst I'm on the subject of pink faces and Timmy Woods, one might spot the odd blush at Harpers Bazaar. In their UK October edition, they've a feature on The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, where on page 350 they have a picture of my hand carrying another individual Timmy Woods bag - The telephone bag , which they kindly say has 'surreal appeal' and is 'fitting for an art event.'


However, I think Harpers may have slightly overlooked the exclusivity of this bag, which they attribute to Lulu Guinness. I did notice that Lulu's new lips bag looks a lot like another of Timmy Wood's creations, so maybe there's been a little confusion. I'm very curious... is anyone able to shed any light on this unfortunate mix-up?

Are you?