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| Property of Jessica Gordon Ryan/The Entertaining House |
I'm trying to sum up my experience in London and I cannot seem to find the words to do so. Perhaps it's because we saw and did so very much and I simply need time to absorb it all and to let the magic and the wonder of it all set in. I will post about the trip and the fabulous finds and sponsors and events in the days to come as I review photographs and materials to share with you all. But I can't not share my personal experience with you -What this trip meant to me from a purely personal perspective.
I knew I would have an amazing adventure even before I left the country - I just had no idea how amazing it would be. I knew I would make some lifelong friends - I just had no idea how many friends and how wonderful these friends would be. I knew I would learn and love and grow - I just had no idea how much I would. To say I am overwhelmed at this moment, as I type this, would be such a gross understatement.
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| Property of Jessica Gordon Ryan/The Entertaining House |
I arrived in London after nearly 12 hours of door to door travel and collapsed in my magnificent hotel bed for an hour before joining all the other wonderful bloggers for an orientation. Whoever would have thought that these new faces would become so important, meaningful and integral to me? I certainly never would have. We bonded over wine (and more wine and even more wine) and food (and even more food and even more food) and we bonded as we walked the streets of London and in showrooms and design shows. We bonded in cab rides, at restaurants and bars. And the stories that we all shared - touching, meaningful, poignant, will never be forgotten. I can't imagine being with a more caring, wonderful group of people. I never imagined it possible to fall in love with so many "strangers" - how in a matter of days such bonds could be created. I never imagined learning from them all... each offering me, in his or her own way, information, advice or a lesson... And as I talk about the bloggers, my new and dear friends, I'd be remiss not to mention Veronika Miller, founder of Modenus, our fearless leader who took such wonderful care of us all, and her beautiful and equally talented daughter Florence "Flo" Von Pelt... You are both truly amazing and wonderful creatures. I know for certain I speak on behalf of the entire group... (xoxoxo)
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| Property of Jessica Gordon Ryan/The Entertaining House |
London is such a juxtaposition. It's old and new. Young and old. Hip, trendy, classical. It's a complete melange of styles and tastes and cultures and I can't help think it's even more eclectic than New York. It's a mecca of the world in terms of art and style and food. As many of you know I lived in England as a teenager and visited often when my grandparents lived there. The London of yesterday is a far cry from the London of today. The architecture says it all... the people say it all... the food says it all. We saw the typical 'touristy' sights but we saw real London... the hip, cool, underbelly of it all... the side streets, the real people - the businessmen, the artists and the artisans. There really is no better way at all to see a city.
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| Property of Jessica Gordon Ryan/The Entertaining House |
Among the places we saw and the events we attended in a mere 5 days were: 4 design shows that included Design Junction, 100% design, Tent Lonon and Decorex. Each show was so incredibly different in style, feel and tone. We went to the Victoria and Albert Museum (where I nearly lost the group as I stood photographing a collection by Christian Dior in the costume gallery!) and the Tate Modern where we also enjoyed an amazing High Tea high on top overlooking London and the Thames River... we had an amazing architectural tour of the city, had private showings of several designer showrooms and stores (more on that later) and ate some most amazing food at a Jamie Oliver pop up restaurant, at The Victoria and Albert, at The Organgery in Kensington Gardens, at Suka, a wonderful Malaysian restaurant in the uber trendy Sauderson hotel... I just know I'm forgetting more than a few things! But in short, we never stopped eating and drinking... and now, as a result, the lettuce and carrots beckon!
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| Property of Jessica Gordon Ryan/The Entertaining House |
My camera and I were in absolute heaven. Sheer heaven! There was just so much to see and take in... overwhelming really. I'm on a bit of sensory overload. I feel very much like a child allowed to stay at her parents' dinner party - who doesn't want to go to bed because she wants to soak it all up and take it all in, and when the grown-ups can go to sleep, then she can too. And that was me this trip. I slept very little - but how could I when there were such amazing opportunities within my grasp? New things to see and do at every moment. I couldn't let those slip away! Life is meant to be lived - not watched from the sidelines.
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| Property of Jessica Gordon Ryan/The Entertaining House |
Did I mention how wonderful everyone was? Not just the bloggers, but the Londoners. They're so warm and welcoming and truly hospitable. They made us feel so very much at home, in their homes. Londoners, Europeans, in general, are so much more relaxed as a society. They haven't all these rules to follow and obey. They're so much more liberated and free and forward thinking and it's so interesting and refreshing to see and hear - These philosophies and this lifestyle lends itself so very well to the world of art and design... and may very well explain why they are the trendsetters and we are the trend followers... But they do love us Americans and our culture!
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| Property of Jessica Gordon Ryan/The Entertaining House |
Art is everywhere... it's very much a part of the culture and the way of living. These numbers aren't sculptures but rather a building number.
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| Property of Jessica Gordon Ryan/The Entertaining House |
This is perhaps the best example of London's extreme in terms of architecture... The Gherkin building in front of St. Andrew's Undershaft Church. This represents a true juxtaposition in style, vision and textures. Whether you like modern architecture or not, it really is truly incredible and demands a certain respect.
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| Property of Jessica Gordon Ryan/The Entertaining House |
As they do throughout Europe, Londoners bike and moped all over the place. Cars are much smaller. Suburbans, even Rovers, in the city itself, are practically nowhere to be found. Parking is null, petrol is ridiculously expensive and the streets are simply too narrow! Did you know that London cab drivers must study to be permitted to drive a taxi. Not only do they know how to navigate the crazy, narrow streets of the city, but they can give you a most in depth architectural tour. I'm not even sure all US cabbies even have their licenses!
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| Property of Jessica Gordon Ryan/The Entertaining House |
The food in London is as diverse as the architecture... there are, perhaps, as many restaurants as there are people. Each one varied and lovely and brimming with people. So it seems London no longer has her "terrible food" reputation. In fact my waist and my jeans can absolutely attest to it!
Eat London. Or maybe that should read Eat, London - definitely Eat in London!
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| Property of Jessica Gordon Ryan/The Entertaining House |
And the wine flowed like the gentle music filling the sweet, fresh air... Truly, people walked around with wine and Prosecco all over the venues and even out onto the streets... I believe I saw (and drank) much more wine and champagne than I did tea!
Please come back and often, as I will be posting regularly in the days to come and bringing you into the shows and galleries and showing you all the wonderful design and creativity in London and beyond!
As I bring this post to a close I bid a fond adieu to my talented new friends, Richard, Corey, Courtney, Marilyn, Laura, Laurie, Lisa, Lisa, Holly, Rita, Ann, Nora, Leanne, Flo and of course Veronika, and from the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank the sponsors for making this all happen:
Mr. Steam, Poggenpohl, Laufen, Du Verre, Blanco, Gessi and of course, Modenus.
XOXO,
Jessica