Sandra‘s Closet

Any room, any occasion, transforms when it’s styled with scent. A way to personalise your home and shape the mood. To uplift, to wind down… or simply to add an air of luxury. Because the ambience of your home should be as inviting as the fragrance on your skin.

I am so excited for Jo Malone’s new introductions to their iconic Home Collection, that are available now. In Switzerland at Jelmoli Zurich and Globus Geneva.

Scent Surround™ Diffusers

Understated. Sleek. Effortlessly and continually add an enveloping scent to any space.
Available in Lime Basil & Mandarin, Pomegranate Noir and Red Roses.

165ml £45 / €60 / CHF86

Scent Surround™ Room Sprays

Instantly create an impression with a burst of enticing scent.
Available in Lime Basil & Mandarin, Pomegranate Noir and Red Roses.

175ml £34 / €45 / CHF62

Limited Edition Scent Surround™ Drawer Liners and Sachets

Infuse clothes and linens with the signature scent of Lime Basil & Mandarin.

Sachets 3 pieces £20 / €25 and Drawer Liners 5 pieces £30 / €40
(Limited edition, not available in Switzerland)

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Jo Malone

Check out this wonderful new S/S 2012 collection from Ralph Lauren Home. I love those ethno-inspired patterns and the earthy colour combinations.

The setting for the photo shoot is also divine. Watch and enjoy!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Ralph Lauren Home

From mid-December 2011 to mid-January 2012, Switzerland’s famous hair stylist (of course mine as well) Charles Aellen Company had opened a pop-up hair salon in St. Moritz. He transformed the so-called Château Papillon des Arts, an old joinery behind the Kulm hotel, into a stylish and ueber-cool hair temple.

Even that it is closed now, I would like to share the stunning photos with you. Please keep in mind, this was only there for 4 weeks! For all interior aficionados, a feast for the eyes and Charles did it all by himself! For those of you who missed it, it will be open during the next Christmas season again.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Charles Aellen Company

Finding a pretty bathroom or a lean kitchen design at Boffi seems to be a no-brainer. Interior designers shop here for elements that can give your house a minimalistic, gallery-ish atmosphere.

Boffi’s new showroom in Zurich-Wollishofen

Heading down to Boffi for the ultimate in a chic, contemporary closet might not have come to your mind first. But it should. Boffi, the high-end Italian manufacturer of kitchens and baths, presents its latest collection: wardrobe and closet components.

The designs include the St. Germain walk-in closet system (Design: Piero Lissoni + CRS Boffi), below, which features rectangular rods, mounted drawers and adjustable shelves. The structure is in melamine white, with black matt elements like drawer handles, trouser-holders, pull-out shelves for shirts, shelves with clothes rods and shelf sides. Fitted with adjustable feet on the ground. I like!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Boffi

I spent Christmas very cozily at our place in the Swiss Alps. I love those days of peace and calmness, when you can take a break from daily life in chunky knits and loose-fit pants.

My look: Oversized alpaca-blend sweater and wool and cashmere-blend pants, both by Stella McCartney and Lady Excalibur watch by Roger Dubuis.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Plopp is a German brand who came up with a fun idea: Decorate your sink with a new plug. Leopard print, festive X-mas styles and flag designs are among the favourites.
For € 14.90 each a cute gift.

LoL, Sandra

I just spent 48 hours in London that were filled with many interesting events, parties and meetings. Let me get started with the launch party for the ‘Cabinet de Curiosites de Thomas Erber’ 2011.

After his successful collaboration with Parisian concept store Colette in 2010, fashion consultant and former journalist Thomas Erber has brought his cabinet to Browns in London. Showcasing a very interesting selection of pieces including everything from fashion and furniture design, to travel packages, art and photography, Erber has gathered many internationally renowned artists and designers to fill his cabinet with their most unique creations.

My key to “Le Cabinet de Curiosités de Thomas Erber”

Thomas Erber with me

„My quest, has always been to push the limits of creativity, to me it is the only thing that feeds the dream living in each of us. Browns, since the beginning, has been the coolest place in the city to me, it has always defended elegance and most importantly independent designers more than anything or anyone else in London.“

- Thomas Erber

Designer Christopher Kane with me (Love his designs! Click here for a previous post)

Here are my favourite curiosities:

FASHION

Rodarte – The Piece

In 2011, the Rodarte sisters, Kate and Laura Mulleavy, joined with two of the world’s most highly acclaimed photographers, Catherine Opie and Alec Soth, to create the first publication to explore and examine the world of Rodarte.

For Thomas Erber’s cabinet at Browns, Rodarte have collaborated with artist Rebekah Miles on a one of a kind book cover, hand painted with an image from the book.

£ 250

Lulu Guinness – The Piece

Designed to befit the expression, “Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder”, this bespoke bag is characteristic of Lulu’s wit and charm. The cubic evening bag is covered in black satin with a wrist strap and is presented in another larger cube which is hand-embroidered with the designer’s iconic handwriting.

£ 1995

Manolo Blahnik – The Piece

“Albero” – an exquisitely delicate shoe. Crafted in crocodile, silk satin leaves encase the ankle, while the foot rests on orange satin lining.

£ 3850 (size 37)

Melinda Gloss – The Piece

Melinda Gloss is the in 2006 established label by childhood friends Rémi de Laquintane and Mathieu de Ménonville.

High quality meets high fashion, as a traditional tweed overcoat is given a modern dressing-down by a hooded inner-layer. Raw edging gives the reassuringly weighty material a sense of lightness without compromising its warmth.

The three coats are available in size 50 for £ 1750 each.

CURIOSITIES & ART

I-Woodesign

A unique jewelry box and watch box in Tamo Ash, one of the rarest and most reasured woods in the world. Sleek and sophisticated by design, the rich finish of the wood results in a piece which is strikingly superior in every sense.

Jewelry Box £ 7200, Watch Box £ 6300

Hungarian-born artist Kata Legrady is a very interesting woman to talk to. She has attracted international fame for her iconic series “Guns & Candies”. A former child soldier, she draws inspiration from her childhood memories.

While we were talking, this bag by Christian Louboutin caught her eyes. It reminded her of a bomb, funny enough!

Kata Legrady – The Piece

‘A 47 Kalashnikov, multicolour original gun with applicated “Smarties” covered with Plexiglass’

The internationally celebrated series, “Guns and Candies” was started in 2008, and is a set of colourful and oversized pieces exploring Legrady’s double fascination with war arms and candies. The Smarties are simultaneously enigmatic, alluring and scary, and appear to leave a residual trace on the retina, like a persisitent dream or a meditative vision. Truly popular art in the very Warholian meaning of the word, these images and artifacts are universally accessible and immediately identifiable. They demand only a little empathy from the viewer’s part, therefore investing each beholder with a power to reveal both their symbolic and artistic qualities.

£ 25000

London based designer Paul Kelley

Paul Kelley – The Piece

A stainless steel polished desk/dressing table with a mirror and a blue acrylic lined interior. The handsome yet elegant work boasts solid brass-plated drawers and solid teak interiors.

£ 54000
All photos above: © Sandra Bauknecht

TRAVEL

“Riders”, 40 x 60 cm, Silver gelatine print, fiber paper, B & W, argentic print, single copy. Especially made for the Cabinet Of Curiosities of Thomas Erber, 2011 edition at Browns by Elina Kechicheva, £ 1840.

LES VOYAGES DE THOMAS BY KUONI

The Road Trip

A mesmerizing and romantic road trip leads to Uruguay, to the edge of the end of the world, just between the “elder brothers” of Brazil and Argentina, and along the Uruguayan coast – which will slowly unveil its mysteries and wonders in a land that is yet to be fully discovered.

A ten day trip will start approximately at £2150 per person (without flights).

Photographs by Elina Kechicheva also available, £ 1840

The Family Safari

A magical, adventurous family trip to the heart of rugged but soulful Namibia, the “king country”, a jewel located on the west coast of southern Africa. Travelers will venture away from the famous Skeleton Coast to the untouched Namib Desert, where safaris are still real and wild – and will be accompanied by dedicated and knowledgeable local people who will help them to experience the real Namibia.

A ten day trip will start approximately at £ 4285 per person (without flights).

The after party took place in London’s newly opened up hot spot: Le Baron.
Here are some photos of the night:

Mark van Huisseling with me

Christian Louboutin and Henry Holland

Mickey got all excited seeing…

…a half naked beauty. 
Photos: © Jean Picou

A real cabinet of curiosties!

LoL, Sandra

For my Swiss based readers, some good news: There has never been a better time to shop Christmas treats than now at Globus. There’s only nine weeks to go until the most wonderful time of the year and the Swiss department store  is tempting us with sweet treats and magical decorations. Knitted Christmas ornaments and beautiful vintage details are bringing alpine charm to your living room. Vienna with its famous icons Mozart and Princess Sissi has served as a huge inspiration. Enjoy the photos that I took during the press preview in the showroom.

Shop the finest fare from the famous Globus Food Halls with yummy delicacies from Austria and other countries.

I love the Austrian chocolatier Bachhalm. They make the most amazing creations with dark chocolat. My favourite one is with rose petals.

With the festive season just around the corner, I am already in the mood for decorating. And with a Pucci oufit from the F/W 2011 collection, you will perfectly match your Christmas decoration.

See you at Globus!

LoL, Sandra

This week, I was invited to spend a night at the hotel Président Wilson in Geneva and to explore the first La Mer spa ever opened in Switzerland.

If you are not familiar with the La Mer brand, let me give you some facts about the cream that is much sought-after by celebrities all around the globe. It was invented by aerospace physicist Dr. Max Huber after he suffered an accident that severly burned his face. When medicine and other traditional means failed to heal his scarred appearance, he looked for the curative powers of the sea and natural regenerating properties of plants. The result was a precious elixir, with The Miracle Broth™ at its heart. Dr. Huber formulated Crème de la Mer (which works by the way truly fantastic if you got a sunburn).

View of the pool

My room

The hotel Président Wilson was a wonderful experience with great service. The spa, which is located on the first floor, also offers relaxing sessions in the hammam, the sauna, the jacuzzi and the outdoor sea-water pool.

Me relaxing in the spa

The spa has 5 rooms, one of which is reserved for massages for two. This was where I had my wonderful body treatment. My skin got exfoliated with The Body Refiner by La Mer that is infused with two carats of pure diamond powder leaving your skin smooth and glowing. After that treatment, I received a relaxing massage with The Body Crème by La Mer that could be described best as a seaweed wrap in a jar.

You can choose from many different treatments, for further information, click here.

A spa treat: Macarons in the La Mer colours

Below you can find some photos of the hotel’s amazing flower decorations:

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Président Wilson; © Sandra Bauknecht

“Cream-coloured with sepia brown engravings, this faience is enchanting. This malleable material can take on the shapes of your wildest dreams to tell the story of a magical stroll through foliage enamelled with surprises.”

I recently came across this set of rustic chic tableware that will transform every table into a storybook fairytale and no cottage style kitchen required.

“Les Maison Enchantées” by Hermès is a 21-piece cream-faience service from landscape architect Francois Houtin in collaboration with the renowned retailer.  All woodland scenes are hand-applied to the china.

For further information, please visit Hermès.com or the Hermès boutique nearest to you.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Hermès