News — English

Cliché: a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought. When I travel, I like to scratch under the surface of a place, so I try to avoid the clichés for which it is known - the less likely it is that a place is featured on Trip Advisor, the happier I am. So what better way to go off the beaten track than to accept Artemano’s invitation to spend a week with them in the north of Thailand, learning where their furniture comes from and how it’s made? I packed my camera and every...

Spring is almost here and with it comes some of my favourite things; having coffee on a terrace, and fresh, bright home décor! When I was growing up, spring was the season of change. We did a lot of cleaning (purge, purge, purge) and our décor got lighter as well. Each room seemed to have a small change that made it feel fresh and new. The number one trick to transition your house from winter to spring is by cleaning and organizing. Empty out your cupboards and closets and get rid of the excess that you accumulated over the last...

It’s that time of year again - time to share fun times and thoughtful gifts with friends and family, and create a whole new set of memories. To kick off the festive season we asked our fans on Facebook to pick their top 10 holiday gifts from the Artemano collection, and here they are, the items you’re looking forward to giving (or maybe receiving!) this holiday season. Small is Precious This time of year is always filled with celebrations, visiting friends at their home, sharing good times together. This metal heart, handmade in India, is a thoughtful token of love...

Stand back a metre or so and you can still feel the strength: Acacia gives off an aura of raw power, perhaps more than any other South East Asian wood. Each piece is a bundle of potential energy, like the haunch of a horse. Even the grain flows in sinuous waves, resembling the rippling muscles of an animal in motion. Acacia is not a ferocious animal, however — more like a trusty steed, slow and steady and majestic in a humble way. It’s such an impressively solid and massive wood that it snaps saw blades with ease. Acacia is like a beast...

Photo credit Lynda Felton As we throw open our doors and windows to the outside and invite nature in, we are reminded that not only do leafy greens and herbs provide nutrition, growing our own edible garden is an amazing way to freshen our space for spring and summer. Plants also help clean the air and connect us to the food chain.   Just imagine being able to freshen up a guest’s cold drink by stepping outside to pick a sprig of mint. Or instantly elevating a fresh tomato sandwich with a few leaves of the freshest basil. And that’s...