Barcelona- modern moments at Vincon

I know the current trend at the moment is hand made layers of love by talented crafts people, but not everyone can appreciate a doily the way they can a Kartell coffee table. I have a friend,Rosy, who unashamedly decked out her bub's new nursery with bold, bright and modern pieces from Top 3 Design, and she was the first person I thought of when I happened upon VINCON in Barcelona. VINCON gives IKEA some tough competition by taking the 'design supermarket' concept to a whole new level- same idea, but everything is an internationally recognised design piece...they even sell Aussie Charles Wilson's famous candelabra there, and the Aalto vase. Here are my top modern finds at VINCON, top to bottom: FLUM light and it's packaging, CORALLE children's toy, NOVOTAT firewood bag, PANTONE coloured notebooks, helmet cover and VINCON brand 2009 diary.

The thing I love best about it is that the terrace where outdoor furniture is on display gives you a very good, cheeky view into the neighbours' place- Gaudi's famous Casa MIla! So very Barcelona to have old and new and design all cohabiting happily.

barcelona- iguapop gallery & shop

After visiting Iguapop gallery and shop on C/ Commerc 15, Barcelona, you might come to expect amazing art, cool wall murals and friendly shop assistants to be part and parcel of your regular trip to a shopping mall- well, that's how it should be anyway! You'll not only find street fashions presented with due consideration, but amazing art in the attached gallery (Elizabth McGrath was exhibiting the day I visited-work pictured above), and the opportunity to purchase prints by Spain's best designers and graphic artists including Miss Van, Catalina Estrada and Jaime Hayon. Hola!

Miss Van

Jaime Hayon

Catalina Estrada

Barcelona- La Comercial- New Lladro

On Placa Comercial in the trendy area of El Born, is design store La Comercial. Stocked with everything must-have in the world of design, they are also very proud of Spanish design exports including none other than Lladro- only the cool modern stuff from their collection though! Forget the old fashioned figurines of twirling peasants mid-village-dance...I was blown away by their new porcelain candles (Mediterranean Beach was my favourite scent) and the Magic Forest Ring I want more than anything else in the world-  (who needs diamonds when you can have a ceramic bird perched on your finger?), which you'll be happy to know is available this christmas at selected Myer stores for $200, or online here. 

barcelona- loreak mendian

Barcelona brings new meaning to the words 'window shopping'. Barcelona does visual merchandising like nobody else. It's as thought there's a big competition going on for who can be the kookiest and most creative. So, I bought a cool tee by this label called Loreak Mendian, who also happen to be into amazing window displays...there are heaps of examples on their website along with their trendy but understated fashion line and amazing graphics projects. You must visit them here!

barcelona-ivo & co

BARCELONA FAVOURITES: Finally tasting xurros & xocolat in Spain, the worn, peach coloured buildings, developing a good taste for mojitos, walking up to 20km a day to visit Gaudi's architecture across the city, and discovering that every shop, restaurant and bar in the city doubles as a conceptual design space- incredible! I WISH I'D- had a magic suitcase that allowed me to bring large design pieces home on the plane...oh, the furniture in BCN!

First stop in the most creative city I've ever visited...IVO & CO. Placa Comercial, El Born, Barcelona. I never thought I'd want to don an apron and dig up a recipe for applesauce, but Ivo & Co, arguably the most beautiful home wares shop I've ever entered, had me thinking like a Stepford wife the moment I stepped inside. Retro, frenchy, vintage style home wares beautifully presented with a country feel. Plenty of gingham, linen, scrubbed back metal, bird motifs and white washed furniture. Stay tuned for my lomos of this treasure when I get them developed!