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Eat Your Way through Los Angeles

Los Angeles is the epitome of what California is all about. The palm-tree lined boulevards of Beverly Hills, the colourful houses of Venice Beach, the art-deco buildings of DTLA, the glitzy shops on Melrose Place, are all parts of what make Los Angeles unique.

One thing about Los Angeles that really stands out, is their passion for health and wellness. Yoga on the beach, organic smoothies, and cold-pressed juices are all the rage in LA, and is probably one of the reasons they live such chilled-out, happy, and healthy lives (that and maybe the perpetually sunny weather too) Team Coco shoes you how to eat your way through LA – in the cleanest and greenest way possible with our top foodie picks in the City of Angels.

Best Girl
Located on the stunning art-deco building of the Ace Hotel DTLA, Best Girl is the perfect spot in the neighbourhood for a power lunch. Best Girl is named after the first film screened in their gothic Spanish theatre way back in 1927. The spectacular interiors serve as the perfect backdrop for their even more spectacular menu. Headed by the Michelin Star Chef Michael Cimarusti, who is known for championing sustainable seafood, Best Girl serves both fresh seasonal fare and also all the classics. Try out their Avocado “Alligator Pear” Toast – which is honestly one of the best Avocado Toasts you’ll have on the West Coast.

Love & Salt
Love & Salt is a fantastic low-key Manhattan Beach restaurant by Chef Michael Fiorelli. Their food philosophy is that food only needs two ingredients to be great — love & salt; and this philosophy can be tasted throughout their gorgeous Italian inspired menu. Their cozy atmosphere, and curated but approachable wine-list, make Love & Salt truly enjoyable culinary experience. No bells and whistles, just good, clean, well-made food. Try their Freehkilicious Salad, a five grain, five herb salad that became my instant favourite; and also the California Endive Salad. Yummy food — without all the empty calories!

Cafe Gratitude
Located on the super cool Venice Beach, Cafe Gratitude is all about serving earnestly good Vegan fare. Everything on the menu is named after a positive affirmation. The Kale Cesar said is called “Dazzling,” the Raw Pesto Kelp Noodles is called “Liberated” while the Daily Dessert Special is called “Remarkable”. You are then invited to order by saying; “I am Dazzling,” “I am Liberated” or “I am Remarkable” – so you leave Cafe Gratitude with both a happy tummy and a happy heart.

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Adventures

Wake up Here: Is La Sultana the most stunning hotel in Marrakech?

Walking along the busy thoroughfare of the Imperial Kasbah quarter — right by the main tourist attraction of Saadien’s Tombs — you wouldn’t guess that you’d be walking past one of the city’s most luxurious hotels, the La Sultana Marrakech.

Marrakech is an aesthetic dream but there is so much more to this magical city than meets the eye. Once you enter the arched Bab Agnaou gates of the old city, you are immediately bombarded with a visceral plethora of sights, sounds, and smells. It is as exhilarating as it is exotic, and once you get to the heart of the Medina, it becomes clear that this city functions on a set of rules that is unique to anywhere else in the world.
From the outside looking in, you’d wrongly assume that the La Sultana Marrakech would be just another Riad, once inside however, and you’d immediately see that you were mistaken. One step into the hotel’s lamp-lit gilded alleyway and you are instantly transported to a time of sultans and princesses. Instantly enveloped in an air of opulence and luxury that will embrace you until check-out.

Inside, you are led through an arched hallway that opens up to the hotel’s grand courtyard. The awe-inspiring space is home to the hotel’s heated outdoor pool and also serves as the breakfast area and as one of the hotel’s dinner venues. It is filled with a myriad of tropical flora and opens up to a large seemingly open-space skylight which draws just the right amount of sunshine in.
The hotel is divided into five riads, the brick-covered Riad Almohad which is housed in the main courtyard, the pink byzantine-style Riad Scheherazade, the Riad Saadia, Riad Sabaa, and the Riad Bahia where we stayed. The hotel has 28 bedrooms and suites, and each one is a reflection of various historical motifs that work to stunning effect. The golden bathrooms are a thing of glory, and it is almost impossible to resist spending an evening enjoying a relaxing bath in this beautiful space.

We had dinner poolside at La Table La Sultana, as a ‘sintir’ player serenaded us in the background. Diners at La Sultana are spoiled for choice and have the option to choose from its French or Moroccan menus. The hotel has a philosophy of ‘Terroir Cuisine’ which showcases 100% locally sourced organic ingredients, and you can certainly taste the difference.
The staff at La Sultana are absolutely faultless. From the moment you check-in, when you are greeted with Moroccan mint tea and dates on the roof, to check-out when you are given a little gift to send you on your way, the staff make you feel like royalty. If you ever get the chance to visit La Sultana, we can assure you, it’ll be an experience unlike anything else in the world.

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Accessories

All The Influential Modern Art Your Heart Desires : The Broad, Los Angeles

Disclaimer: This #TeamCoco writer does not know anything about art. I would never pretend to and I actively shy away from Arty talk; that’s why we have our residential art guru Rachael Lindsay.

However, if you are spending any time in DownTown LA (or DTLA as the cool kids call it) you have to get a free (FREE?!) ticket for new modern art museum on the block, The Broad (S Grand Ave, DTLA). Open since September 2015, the stunning piece of modern architecture acts not not only as home to Eli and Edythe Broad’s extensive collection of influential art but also a mix of permanent and special exhibition space.

When we visited we were lucky enough to experience the permanent collection to gawp at life changing pieces of art you didn’t even know you knew or had influenced you from Jeff Koons, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Barbara Krueger to Takashi Murakami and Roy Lichtenstein.

The special exhibition ‘Creature’ thematically displayed pieces by some of the artists in the permanent collection (notably Koons’ ‘Metallic Venus’) alongside pinch-me-I-can’t-believe-I’m-in-front-of-this work like Damien Hirst’s ‘No Arts, No Letters, No Society’ and Andreas Gursky’s ‘SH III’.

Heading back to the stunning foyer we got our timed tickets for the star attraction, Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room. As an incredibly personal installation, the lines for this are long as it is designed as a single person experience.

Lamentably, a mirror selfie in this space seems to be the main reason for most of the excitable people in the queue, hoping to nail their Tinder profile pic that says ‘Oh hey there, I’m cultured AND fun!’.

We go in, camera firmly in pocket and sit on the floor of the platform that is surrounded by water to enjoy 1 minute alone with this astonishing piece. Get in the queue early when you arrive as there was a 5 hour wait for this experience, but you can leave the gallery and come back when you are texted to do so!

Tickets are available for this incredible museum from https://www.thebroad.org/visit

They are completely free and released at the start of each month.

In addition to the art you’ll find in LA’s incredible museums be sure to check out some Street Art while you are in town. A great place to start is https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/what-to-do/culture/urban-art

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Interiors

Why Is My Furnace Short Cycling?

If your furnace keeps turning off, then you will want to find the cause as soon as possible. Issues like this tend to occur at the worst possible time. If you without heating and you have kids in the house, then you will want to know the extent of the damage as soon as possible. Some of the reasons a furnace may short cycle can be fixed with ease. Others will require expert hands.Some of those possible causes include:

Your Thermostat

Depending on where it is in your home, the thermostat is one of the major reasons why furnaces short cycle.If it is too close to the furnace, it can feel hotter than your home actually is and instruct the furnace to shut off. Calling an expert means they can help to move it to a more appropriate place that will prevent this from happening.

The Furnace Filter

Probably the most common cause for short cycling is a clogged filter. Furnace filters should be changed every few months unless you have a higher quality filter which lasts a little longer.Look for the MERV score. This determines furnace filter ratings and ranges from 1 to 16. The higher the number, the better it is at removing particles. It is these particles that can clog up if not changed frequently. Luckily it is easy to check for yourself.

Blocked Exhaust

Anything that hinders your system is going to result in it short cycling. When it comes to your exhaust vent, something as simple as a bird’s nest can cause the whole system to overheat. Check that air can flow by turning off the furnace and using a light to check for blockages.

Your Furnace Is Too Big

If you were sold a furnace that you didn’t need, it could be coming back to haunt you. A furnace that is too big will find it easy to short cycle meaning it could be happening frequently. Not only does this waste a lot of energy but the repeated turning on and off damaged the furnace. This can result in more expensive furnace repair services being necessary. An expert can help you to see if the furnace you have is right for your property.

The Furnace Itself Is Overheating

If the furnace is too hot, then the safety net of it short cycling is working. Still, this isn’t something you should allow to continue. If the airflow is blocked, which is one of the common causes of a furnace overheating, then it can lead to cracks in the heat exchanger. This is dangerous as it can lead to carbon monoxide leakages. If you suspect that this is the problem, call an expert immediately.

These are the most frequent reasons a furnace will short cycle. The first thing to check should be the filters as they are the easiest to fix. The bigger concerns should not be ignored as they can be a risk to your health.

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Interiors

Interior Decorating Tips for Those Who Live in Cloudy Locations

There’s no better place than home, but that doesn’t change the fact that living in a place with way too many overcast days a year can get to you. Decorating your home to be cheerful and light is the best method of dealing with the glum outdoors. These interior design trick will also work for anyone who wants to make their home a more welcoming place that can put you in a good mood on any day.

Top 5 Interior Decorating Tips for Overcast Locations and Old Gloomy Houses

Use full-wall draperies to make the space cozy

Catching what little light you can from the windows might seem like a good idea, but if you live in a place where the light is scarce, you shouldn’t waste the effort. Having a full-wall drapery, on the oth4er hand, can cheer the place up and create a cozy and romantic atmosphere. This type of drapes will work best for bedrooms and living rooms.

Check out some great full-wall drapes ideas on Pinterest for inspiration. Remember that you should choose drapes of light colors and materials. Go for sheer colors without prints.

Add some candles

Candles make beautiful decorations and when lighted they can make any space seem cozy and warm. According to an experienced interior decorator in Montreal, a home is a place to soothe your soul, and candles can definitely do that. Montreal interior designers know how to make a home seem cheery when the sky is overcast because the weather there is cloudy nearly all year round (Weather Spark). Statistically, the consumption of candles per person has been increasing in the recent years, which proves the growing appreciation of them as an interior décor element.

You can use any candles to enhance your home interior and make it less gloomy. However, the best kind would be scented candles as they influence your sense of smell as well and can boost your mood through it.

Get a bold colored rug

The rug can become the centerpiece of your interior and the item that will take it from gloomy to cheery in an instant. To create this kind of effect, you should go for the brightest, downright outrageous rug you can find.

It doesn’t matter if it’s the only bright item in the room. In fact, this will make the interior look cheerier overall if you choose the neutral-light color scheme that will highlight the wonder of a rainbow-colored soft rug on the floor. It will be best if it’s soft and fluffy as you’ll want to spend a lot of time on that island of color on overcast days.

Choose matter over gloss

If possible make the majority of surfaces in the room matte. While it might seem that glossy polish will look better in a dark room, it actually makes it look less cozy because of the glare.

Matte surfaces reflect light equally, thus they won’t hurt your eyes under the bright LED lights.

Go ‘Scandinavian’

The residents of Scandinavian countries know exactly how dull living in an overcast location can be and they created an entire interior design style to deal with it. The main rules of the Scandinavian style seem to be ‘paint everything white’ and ‘use wood where you can’.

These are two principles you should be integrating into your home interior design. White is a great base color for any potentially dark space. And wood is a great contrast to it that makes an interior seem cozy instead of sharp.

Note that Scandinavians are also big on minimalism. Therefore, you should minimize the number of decorations in the room to make the pace feel and look lighter.

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Accessories

#WomenWorlwide: Alena Mira on making fashion for modern nomads

Back in the stone age, and up until the dawn of agriculture, nomadism was a way of life. But in 2019, amidst concrete jungles, growing populations, and rapid fire technological development — a new kind of modern nomad emerged, and that is the wanderlust searching traveller.

In this latest #WomenWorldwide interview, we caught up with fellow nomad, Alena Mira, and talked about her innovative fashion brand NoMad. While her colourful and creative designs have been inspired by our shared nomadic history — her vision for NoMad is totally unique — and its one that’s all about embracing adventure and owning our natural power.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what inspired you to start NoMad Limited?

My name is Alena Mira. For me NoMad is an internal state, inspired by the nomadic traveler living forever in me. It’s not about giving this up to live a calm, measured life.

How have your travels inspired your brand? Why the name NoMad?

I travel a lot, this is my inspiration, my life, my breath of fresh air. Nomad is a way of life, and was created for modern nomads who appreciate wonderful unique pieces. These modern nomadslove adventures, new discoveries, travelling, and are free from society to pursue their true dreams.

NoMad unites different cultures and their traditions, because true beauty is timeless, it’s always on trend. We are surrounded by stone jungles, and so we lose touch with the natural world. We forget that we are part of nature, and that we are the crown of Mother Nature’s creation. NoMad is a kind of fusion of ethnic power with the energies of the past and the future, I know for sure that the spirit of NoMad lives in each of us, even if we sometimes forget. Perhaps this is all a little wild and insane (In fact, the business itself is two-handed in translation, NoMad is both a nomad-traveler and a madman at the same time) and I mean insane in the best way.

Where do you get the inspiration for your designs?

All of our collections of originate from centuries-old traditions, and jewellery is at the heart of it all. I take inspiration from everything, from the mystical fusion of theStone Age, the nomadic past of our ancestors, and even the fashion of the present. Since ancient times, our ancestors decorated their bodies. I don’t follow fashion, everything is created in the direction of the heart, and the heart does not know time, it knows only energy and this gives the collections a unique spirit.

Who is the modern NoMad for you?

The modern nomad is all of us, and nomadism, it could signify anything that doesn’t slow down. Just before the nomads saddled wild animals, we now inhabit megalithic cities. However, the spirit of our ancestors and the endless longing for our roots, sits in each of us. And internally everyone has to do succumb to it, such is our essence — to be in endless movement, to expand horizons, to be free in our thoughts and judgments.

What advice do you have for women who would like to become a GirlBoss like yourself?

Not just for GirlBosses but for women everywhere, my wish is: Be faithful to your Life and be faithful to the direction of your life.

NOMAD.LIMITED

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Food & Drink

Après Ski all year Round with Alpes London & the Raclette Brothers

Team Coco checks out Alpes London, the Raclette Brother’s new semi-permanent opening in Pop Brixton; bringing all the wonderfully cheesy flavours of the Alpes right into the heart of South London. So if you’re a raclette lover looking for an unpretentious après-ski (in London), then Alpes London will definitely be your new favourite pop-up.

We make our way to Pop Brixton on a sunny Sunday afternoon. The place is buzzing despite the usual lazy vibe signalling the dreaded end of the weekend. For those who haven’t had the chance to visit the South London location, Pop Brixton is a melting pot of different restaurants and bars, all built conveniently into container vans. Alpes London is located in prime real estate right above the entrance, where guests can view all the happenings down below. With options for both indoor and outdoor dining, Alpes offers is a casual alternative to Street-food dining, without all the faff of being in a fancy restaurant – i.e. no sitting on steps or leaning on tiny cocktail tables.

We are greeted right away by the extremely charming Jaime, 1/2 of the Raclette brothers, and front-of-house for Alpes London. As we start off the evening with a bottle of their delicious “Space Cat” wine while Steve, the other half of the Raclette Brother’s, whips up some truly delectable dishes from their Swiss inspired menu. Alpes London champions using only the best producers in Europe; after all the brother’s do come from a long line of producers as well. We start off with some deep fried olives stuffed with goat’s cheese, followed by their vegan offering, the wild garlic asparagus drizzled with hazelnut pesto, and then the melt-in-your-mouth beef cheek pancetta. The piece de resistance however, is definitely the Raclette Jurasienne. A giant wheel of Raclette cheese, melted to perfection and then scraped directly onto a plate of roast Queen Anne potatoes, pickles, and crispy pancetta. Absolutely mouth-watering.

All this and more puts Alpes London on top of London’s culinary pops ups, proving that Raclette is just as good in the summer as it is in the winter slopes. If not for anything else, do pop in and have a chat with the Raclette brothers themselves. Beyond proving their literal hands-on approach to food, with Jaime working front-of-house, and Steve in the kitchen — the brothers are always up for a good laugh over some beers and some truly delicious raclette.

Alpes London is in Pop Brixton, 49 Brixton Road, and open from Wednesday-Sundays until 11pm

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Accessories

GIRLBOSSES OF GREAT BRITAIN: THE ONE WITH NO FRIDGE MAGNETS IN SIGHT

House of Coco caught up with Alice Mayor, the lady responsible for kicking our London souvenirs into shape with the innovative We Built This City. Be gone snow globes and magnets and hello limited edition prints and, er, pigeons!

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HOC: Hello Alice! Welcome to GBOGB – our series about ladies doing it for themselves. Something we’ve loved about our interviews so far is how so many of our GirlBosses are queens of reinvention – where you are in life or what you do for a living now doesn’t define you! How did you come to setting up We Built This City?

AM: I started life in PR and marketing for an agency with Arts clients. After being in the Arts industry I decided that I wanted to get more of a hands on feel for business. I felt there was a distance between being in an agency and actually in a business and I wanted to get involved in a start up. So, after 4 years of working in an agency I went to work for an online art and design retailer. It involved taking a pay cut but it was a lot of fun. I met a lot of artists and heard them all telling me how tough it was to be an artist. They had to do tonnes of admin and trade shows which meant they didn’t have time to get on and do what they did best!

I’m really passionate about creativity and felt sad that art wasn’t getting to a wider audience. It soon became my mission to help artists and designers with their careers through opening up and democratising art and design – so that artists could find new audiences and customers could find new products in a different way.

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HOC: What was it about souvenirs that attracted you?

AM: Post the Olympics, London was in ascendency as a city. I remember reading an article that we were the most visited city in the world. Suddenly it didn’t seem right that people visiting London would always stick to the central tourist areas and rarely see the cooler sections. At the same time, London-related pieces were selling very well at the online retailer I was working for. I think that people feel very emotional about London; they come on holiday here, fall in love here, live here – there’s something for everyone in this city.

Typical souvenirs are so outdated and there’s a huge gap between what you can buy in a traditional souvenir shop and what the city represents. Typical souvenirs also tend to be cliched, generally not made locally and don’t represent an experience of contemporary London. There’s a lot more to London; you don’t even need to a be tourist to want a souvenir; many Londoners are very tribal about their areas!

It was surprising to me that this idea hadn’t been done in this way before. Of course, you can find good London inspired products in museum & gallery gift shops and places like Selfridges and Fortnum and Mason. However, no-one was doing it with a proper design-led approach. I realised that so many of the artists and designers, being based in London, had pieces inspired by the city. And even better, they were quality products and artworks with an affordable price tag, so perfect for a diverse customer in central London.

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HOC: Your store couldn’t be more central in London (on Carnaby Street); how on earth did you get that to happen?

AM: Finding the right space was definitely the toughest thing. I literally walked around for 6 months banging my head on the walls looking for property! I couldn’t end up in Shoreditch, I knew I needed to be in central London for the shop to work. There were plenty of people who said that it wouldn’t work in a traditional retail environment as rents are so high.

In my 6 months of looking for the perfect space, I lurked around London; lots of lingering outside traditional souvenir stores, ringing estate agents, pop up managers etc. I finally found a contact who dealt with leasing around Carnaby Street and Soho; two areas where I thought the shop could work really well. The area has such heritage but you also get a lot of fashion and design in the area.

I pitched with a keynote presentation with the name ‘We Built This City’ and some example products. The team loved it but had a caveat – we would have to open in the next 3 weeks in a 3,000 sq ft space on Carnaby Street. It was crazy and utterly exhilarating and we opened on the 21st November for 8 weeks, it was really popular, so much so we were invited back in time for Summer 2015 and we’ve just moved to a new space right in the middle of Carnaby. We’re not really a pop-up anymore, I call us a ‘stay-up’!

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HOC: Wow, it happened so fast. How did you manage the transition from working full time for someone else to working for yourself?

AM: During the time I was lurking around London I left my job at the online retailer – the business was being sold to new owners, so it was the right time. I then did some freelance work with Pip Jamieson – she’s a massive inspiration and a great female entrepreneur. I worked with her to launch The Dots but the day after the launch party I had an emotional reaction that, after helping another business, told me this was my time. It was a real guttural instinct that pushed me on to get the meetings that led to the launch of We Built This City.

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HOC: And who makes up ‘We Built This City’ now?

AM: The ‘we’ of ‘We Built This City’ has been important from day one for me. When we first opened I already had a retail analyst friend of mine on board; she had been working for 10 years and wanted to do something else. She’s been instrumental to our success; she has been incredible at setting up the store and all of the finance side of things. I never dreamt of having a 3,000 ft shop at Christmas and I honestly don’t think I could have done that without her!

In fact, as everything moved so fast with the first opening – almost everyone in my life has been involved with We Built This City in some way. I had been trying to get a start up loan from the government but that takes around 6 weeks and I only had 3, so I did a big ring round my friends and family telling them I’d pay them back at some point in the future!

For the first opening I was in the shop every day for 8 weeks and I had a team of 5 people who also did shifts. It was like having a baby; I just couldn’t leave the shop; I had the key and was in first and out last. It got to a point that, in order for the business to have a future, I needed to come out of being full-time in the shop. Now we have a great team in place: Olivia runs the Carnaby store and does all the product buying, Katy takes care of all the artist liaison and art buying – they both have great commercial eyes and are instrumental to our success at making sure there’s something for every taste and budget. We are also now very lucky to have Adam who has 10 years experience in creative marketing and PR – support in that area is vital in the early days to build a strong community and brand. We also have a really talented shop team. Above anything else, the most important thing for me is our customer relations with our shop customers and the creative community. From my time working with Pip at The Dots I was very aware of what it takes to make a business run and that’s why I’ve taken the decision to build a solid team across the board early on. My advice to anyone starting out is to be very honest as early as possible about your strengths and what you can offer the business. Then plug the gaps and build a really strong team around you to share the weight.

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HOC: Is it all about London, then or would you consider other locations?

AM: London was the starting point for me. In fact, a friend of mine came up with the name ‘We Built This City’ over a pint – I didn’t want London in the name as I didn’t want to be restricted! Tatty souvenirs are a problem the world over. There’s great homegrown craft out there but there’s always the standard souvenir store. I’m sure there is still a place for a snow globe souvenir but we can do more!

We are really ambitious to grow outside of London, whether that’s around the UK or beyond, will have to be seen. We’re still learning so much from our experience on Carnaby and need to spend some more time consolidating our offer here first. It is though very important to me that We Built This City is not just about London and we take this opportunity to more creatives around the world.

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HOC: Our series is in part inspired by #GirlBoss movement and something they celebrate are Girl Boss Moments – do you have a recent experience that made you feel like a real Girl Boss?

AM: I’ve been asked to do a lot of talks recently. When you are invited to speak about your experience it really makes you realise that you’ve nailed something! It’s also a great opportunity to stop and reflect on what you’ve actually achieved, as well as what’s working and what’s not. I was first asked to speak at the Pulse trade show and was inundated with questions – it’s then that I also realised that I can now share my story and help others in the process. I was quite humbled by it all! More recently, I’ve spoken at Guardian Masterclasses and SohoCreate festival.

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HOC: So what’s new for this new phase of We Built This City?

AM: We’re launching our online store later this summer.

We also have loads going on in our new space at 46 Carnaby Street; events and workshops that bring our designers into the store. For me, it’s so important that the store is about more than the transaction; we recently invited an artist called Rugman to design our third storefront which is a bold & colourful geometric design with a vinyl of the Queen as the centrepiece.

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HOC: Sounds awesome, Alice! Thanks for sharing your story with us and we can’t wait to pop down for a workshop soon. Make sure you check out We Built This City, now at 46 Carnaby Street. They represent over 250 London artists and so far have supported over 600.

Do your part and support local artists and their creativity when you travel. We hate to break it to you but no one really wants an ‘I’m with Stupid’ t-shirt from your next city break!

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Arts

#WomenWorldwide: Creativity from the heart of Lagos with Oeuvre Designs

For our #WomenWorldwide series, we’ve gone out on the road to find the most innovative and inspiring entrepreneurs we can from every corner of the globe. Today’s interviewee, Zainab Akingbehin, is an interior designer at Oeuvre Designs, based in the heart of the bustling city of Lagos, Nigeria.

HOC: Great to meet you Zainab! Let’s start with the tricky stuff! What’s your elevator pitch for Oeuvre Designs?
Zainab: Oeuvre Designs is an interior design studio based in Lagos Nigeria, we specialise in bespoke designs with the client’s personality and functionality being key to our designs.

HOC: Your work is beautiful! Tell us about your journey to running this business?

Zainab: Oeuvre designs started in 2016 with as little as nothing! It’s been quite an interesting journey though, of course there have been some learnings also on this journey, and hasn’t always been a smooth ride, but the determination has been strong.
When we launched the first question was, where do we get clients from and how? But we came up with our first furniture design “Hexa Stool” and everything went from there and brought us to into limelight. I guess that’s how we started!

HOC: You are based in Lagos which is known globally for being a hub of design, what’s it like running your business there?

Zainab: Trust me, Lagos is one of those tough places to get anything done on a daily basis. The hustle and bustle is real and the design process isn’t a smooth one here, getting things done in time is quite challenging and there are limitations too as we
almost never have the right places to source for things. But, hey, we are strong people here and the passion drives us so we never get tired of the challenges!

HOC: How do you balance these varying demands on your time-being creative and running the business side of things?

Zainab: As a creative designer and a business owner in today’s industry you often have to wear multiple hats. It’s a juggling act and not always easy to get the balance right. I don’t think there is ever a perfect balance though because there is a guilt either way.

I’m a perfectionist and the reality of being a creative designer and a business owner is that something always have to give which doesn’t sit well with me. But with the support I get from my team at work allows me to shuffle both.

HOC: Who would be your ideal client?

Zainab: Definitely clients that love good finish and clean lines; clients that have creative personality and also the support co-creation process.

HOC: Why, in your opinion, is good design so important?

Zainab: Good design is important due to the aesthetic value it possess in a given space. The fact is having an interior design that looks nice and beautiful will make you like your home even more. Also, good design means functionality because it
affects your quality of life. In your home, people live in such a way that they interact with their environment on a daily basis. Trust me, if a design does not work for you it’s most likely to frustrate you more than making you happy!

HOC: For our creative readers, what advice would you have for them to grow their artist practices and get their work seen?

Zainab: Firstly, self-confidence is very important. For instance, a stranger asks what do you do, and your response is not portraying any aura of confidence, then you are not doing a good job being a creative artist and selling yourself. No matter how
amazing your work is, if you are not confident enough in your work then it’s going to take series of miracle for anyone to see and appreciate your work!

Secondly know your value. One man’s paint splatter is another man’s masterpiece. So when you are trying to decide how much to charge for your work you need to take a lot of things into account like the time and cost of your supplies.

Thirdly consider the factors in the intangibles of your work that gives it value.

HOC: What piece that you’ve created means the most to you and why?

Zainab: Definitely my “Hexa Stool” : it was the start of my furniture design and it brought me into limelight so it means the most to me.

HOC: Where do you get your inspiration from?

Zainab: I get inspiration everywhere, from nature, my environment, architecture, sometimes in books and design blogs. Also by surrounding myself with positive minded people.

HOC: If you ever have a creative block / funk; how do you get yourself out of it?

Zainab: Most times I just take 2 days off work and it helps a lot. I always have in mind the idea of finishing what you’ve started because the creative part is in seeing it through to the end and turning that dream into reality! I can also be spontaneous in nature; some of our designs are done lastminute and that is the fun part of being a designer.

Check out Zainab’s work at Oeuvre Designs at OeuvreDesigns.co

Follow along at @Oeuvre_Designs

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Afternoon Tea

#TeamCocopup: A doggy staycation at The Egerton House Hotel

After months of searching, TeamCocopup Charlie and I have finally found London’s best dog-friendly hotel, and it’s the perfect place for a luxury doggy staycation.

Located in a quiet tree-lined street in Knightsbridge, just a quick walk away from the busy shoppers at Harrods’ and the lush greenery of Hyde Park, The Egerton House Hotel is classic luxury at its finest. The hotel was originally built in 1843 and overlooking perfectly manicured private gardens; a luxurious sanctuary in the heart of vibrant Knightsbridge. The Egerton House Hotel has all the signatures of a Red Carnation Hotel; from its beautiful and timeless interiors, to its warm and truly impeccable staff, and everything else in between.

The exceptional service at The Egerton House is felt from the moment you step foot in the door; and the staff pull out all the stops when rolling out the red carpet for your four legged friend. Every room at the Egerton House is pet-friendly, which is hardly the case with other London hotels. We checked into our beautiful studio suite. ‘Studio’ is an understatement, because these rooms are as spacious ad they are indulgent. A muted colour palette is contrasted with a stunning vaulted ceiling,a cosy sitting area, a king sized bed with 200 thread count Belgian linen, and two glasses of bubbles patiently waiting our arrival.

Don’t fret – TeamCocopup Charlie also got the works, with his own luxury dog bed, two bowls full of treats, doggy matts, towels, and his choice of breakfast, dinner, and afternoon tea – with his very own doggy menu. The doggy afternoon tea is held in The Egerton House’s beautiful Ivory hued Drawing Room and is definitely worth mentioning. The hotels afternoon tea celebrates the great British tradition with panache.From traditional loose leaf teas, to minimal asian flavours, and even some show-stopping herbal infusions; the Egerton House Hotel has something for even the most discerning tea connoisseur. While I enjoyed a glass of champagne with my afternoon tea, Charlie enjoyed a three course doggy menu of his own — also served in doggie-themed three-tiered tea stand. This very special doggy menu comprises of home made chicken and beef meatloaf, freshly baked dog biscuits, and some pure fruit doggie ice cream, not to mention some pup-friendly PAW-secco too — now that’s VIP (Very important Pet) treatment.

As House of Coco’s official doggie journalist, Team Coco pup Charlie has explored plenty of dog-friendly places in London, but nowhere reaches the same level of puppy-pampering as the Egerton House Hotel. The Egerton House Hotel exudes all of the essential charms of a luxury British hotel, balanced with the warm familiarity of a family run establishment.

WWW.EGERTONHOUSEHOTEL.COM

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