2018-07-31

Shanghai Mansion Bangkok - Be inspired To Thrive

Hundreds of boutique and designed hotels are scattered around Bangkok with inspiring themes and concepts alluring individual likes, tastes and preferences. For Thai people’s ingenious imaginative and innovative interior design, the sky is the limit and to bring Shanghai back to life in Bangkok’s historic Chinatown is no longer a dream but a luxurious notion of superiority. mylifestylenews writes.


China Town in Bangkok is centered on Yaowarat Road, and it has been the main centre for trading by the Chinese community since they moved from their old site some 200 years ago. Within reach of the city’s old world and modern transport via water taxis aka long tail boats, the historic canal, the underground MRT and the soaring Skytrain are all a short walk away.


During day time the street is the centre of the goods trade in the city while after sunset it becomes a vibrant street food venue. Thai and Chinese cuisine plus seafood is served at pavement restaurants along the 1km road. Location is a definite truism for Shanghai Mansion and this only concept designed boutique hotel in Bangkok’s China Town is as central as you can get.


Overcoming the limitation, Shanghai Mansion Bangkok unleashes its most visionary ideas with a nostalgic nod to the 1920s Shanghai effects reinvented and brings back the yesteryears of prosperity to life.  With Bangkok’s historic past and its electric present converging in China Town, it brings with it nostalgia, exoticism and boundless energy. Such a decisive force is truly mesmerizing setting places in regular shop houses in the rustic Yaowarat.


When you enter Shanghai Mansion through the bustling Yaowarat road, either day or night, you will be carried away by its high ceiling façade Shanghai Terrace’s Jazz Lounge that recalls the effusive mood and spirit of Shanghai occupying an open air terrace with a front row view of the energetic scenes in Bangkok’s China Town.


To enter the hotel, you need to cross the striking red cemented floored wooden bridge, the incessant sound of running water from the ceiling high wall-mounted waterfalls creates a calming effect, set in a superior old Chinese house’s landscaping that expresses the harmonious and peaceful elements before entering the mansion.


An over-sized painting portraying an elegant oriental woman greets you right into your eyes and also serves as a partition of the hallway that separates the mansion foyer where check-in formalities take place.


Behind the portrait hangs a gigantic wall clock with the background visual of The Bund in Shanghai – a famous pedestrian boulevard and landmark that fits perfectly well to the theme of the mansion. The imagination is unfettered by the laws of logic, hence the bold concept is revived and demands a broader approach and handled with an impressionist’s flair.


We were then being ushered to third floor checking-in to our room, upon stepping out from the lift and beyond what we saw next was totally unexpected. Another visual stimulation that we couldn’t help but use the word WOW rushed out from our mouth blissfully.


What sat in front of us is a soaring atrium with colorful lanterns and a water garden full of fish and greenery. At the end of the Lucky Fish Pond staged a small podium with Chinese day bed sitting on top of an eye-catching peony flower carpet, renowned for its sensual bloom and intoxicating fragrance complementing the dynamic yet zen ambiance that brings nature and whimsy indoors.


The interior design has certainly found new creative expression in a hybrid mansion that reflects in a concept like this that was a beautifully crafted aesthetic. While capturing the warmth of cozy surrounds, more than this, there are other playful elements of design that doesn’t seem to end even before we enter our room.


The Chinese wooden panel signage hanging above the entrance doors was supposed to signify the origin of your province and tell a story of your ancestral roots but when it fell to the hand of the design team, it was then turned into more meaningful phraseology that suits more for this boutique hotel’s perspective. Those wooden panels’ wording has been converted to Happiness, Good Luck, Prosperity, Wealth, Auspicious and Longevity.


Surreal and fun yet functional, the design has summed up the aesthetic, with gleeful vulgarity. The room door opens with a actual key, not magnetic key card and for the idea of coming home.


Our “Prosperity” cornered Mu Dan Suite is one of the largest rooms in Shanghai Mansion and exquisitely arranged to reclaim your Shanghai style of living memories though those films that have been made and watched in your past.


The suite is generously spacious including a sitting area, a plush daybed, classic style king size bed, a free standing bath tub and a sexy bathtub, making this an ultimate sanctuary. Traditionalists can opt for Mu Dan Classic’s old world flair, while modernists will enjoy Mu Dan Contemporary’s hip that takes on the vintage Shanghai style.


The name Shanghai Mansion fits in to the locale perfectly well. Exploring the boundaries between what is considered art and design, increases the design with a playful side and part of this heightened interest is down to the interior design team exploring the almost lost culture to liberate the building into such a concept and thematic mansion.


This secret hideaway mansion in the bustling Bangkok China Town offers a an absolutely oriental chinoiserie not only to excite your vision but also an experience to transfer you back to the vibrant life in the old Shanghai with art deco design and everything in Orient to pique your sentimental passion. With these qualities of playful design elements, such details bring back the bygone memories of a haute shanghai living.


Taking advantage of the Shanghai, China’s spiraling fascination with contemporary and thematic design and a new playful mood in general evoke a “new atmosphere and sensation’ that gives a fairytale dimension.


Boundaries are pushed in order to be more functional, the aesthetic is reverent and avant-garde and elsewhere expresses a new optimistic outlook that translates into a cool, confident stylish boutique hotel.


The space required a few grand gestures, clashing colors and patterns were fused with abandon to create an atmospheric charm with flamboyant furniture and almost a surrealist inspired objects to décor expressing a new playful and experimental mood in design. It is a careful balancing act.


When playfulness is the core mission in its interior design and décor, the Cotton Breakfast Restaurant is set in an airy dining hall with tall, arched windows overlooking the Yaowarat street featuring delightful semi continental buffet and all you can order from western and traditional Chinese a-la-carte menu.


The mansion also offers a guided walking tour to explore the old and historic China Town and delve into the city’s heritage and discover its decadent and fanciful present. Also, nearby are the busy Phahurat and Sampeng Markets - the biggest wholesale and clothing markets in Thailand.


A charming and sophisticated design to new heights with a romantic appeal, the bold  and beautiful Shanghai Mansion is truly an intriguing new addition to Bangkok China Town and expresses a profound sense of connection with the bygone Shanghai style -inspired luxurious deco and living.


It may not be a five-star standard with amenities and facilities provided, but they have outshone themselves for a design boutique hotel vista offering a stylish haven for dreaming, lounging and celebrating. People may not be attracted to dreamlike environments of sweetness and protection and they have created an island of comfort in a hostile world to enhance the sensibility to this kind of emotion for play, introspection, creativity and celebration. The guests need to be surprised and inspired to thrive.


Tried & Tested:
Location: 4.5/5
Design & Decor: 5/5
Room Amenities: 4/5
Food & Beverages: 3.5/5
Housekeeping: 3.5/5
Service: 4/5
Value For Money: 4.5/5
Experience: 4.5/5

Highlights:
Design & Decor

479-481 Yaowarat Road,
Samphanthwong, Bangkok
Thailand
Tel: +66 2 221 2121

Reviews are based on actual day of visit and experience. mylifestylenews reserves the right of final decision in case of any disputes. All images are photographed by mylifestylenews team without any photoshop enhancement and are the property owned by mylifestylenews unless otherwise stated.

Van Cleef & Arpels Presents The New Perlée Collection

 True to its style of refined curves, the Perlée™ collection introduces new bracelet aesthetics to accentuate both hard stones and diamonds. A revival of the tradition of golden beads, these joyful creations shine in varied tones, suggesting infinite associations. In the spirit of the Maison's Between the Finger Ring™, three new bracelets display diverse harmonies of color. Diamonds and cabochons of hard stones are placed opposite on an open shank, exhibiting an original aesthetic design. Yellow gold complements the singular beauty of malachite and white gold accents the glow of turquoise, while the warmth of pink gold echoes the radiant hue of carnelian.


Each bracelet is made up of a multitude of delicate, shimmering beads that uphold the joyful spirit of the collection. Worn in a sparkling cascade around the wrist, they graciously heighten the precious union of the stones. They combine beautifully with the rings, pendants and earrings in the Perlée collection, sharing the same interplay between materials and golden beads. To complement the Perlée diamonds creations, three delicate bracelets exhibit a row of round diamonds surrounded by two rows of gold beads. With their flowing lines, these creations sparkle with every movement, tenderly caressing the wrist with their graceful dance.


Worn in twos or threes, they elicit limitless associations, the different hues of gold blending in perfect harmony. The discreet brightness of white gold complements the sunny tint of yellow gold, adorning the skin in a gleaming halo, or the warm and feminine nuance of pink gold. For even more variations, they can accompany Perlée signature pieces engraved with roundhand letters, or play perfectly off the curves of Perlée pearls of gold bracelets. Thanks to their discreet clasp and a new choice of sizes, the bracelets can grace any wrist with finesse. Perlée creations remain faithful to the tradition of excellence of the Maison. Reflecting its expertise and savoir-faire, each detail is carefully studied. Each bead is reworked by hand and then polished to bring out its characteristic gleam. On open bracelets, the hinge becomes imperceptible thanks to exacting jewelry craftsmanship. The inner surface is polished using the mirror polishing technique dear to Van Cleef & Arpels.


Diamonds are selected according to the strictest gemological criteria: D, E or F for color and IF, VVS1 or VVS2 for clarity. They sparkle with intensity on Perlée diamonds pieces thanks to an openwork gold structure that allows light to pass through in the purest fine jewelry tradition. The hard stones also meet the Maison’s stringent selection criteria. Malachite, with its deep green hues, draws its poetic spirit from the regular streaks running across its surface, while turquoise stands out for its opaque blue color, at once intense and uniform. Carnelian is chosen for the consistency of its red-orange tone, warm and deep, which is further enhanced by polishing.

2018-07-30

Holiday Inn Bangkok - A Staycation To Inspire

Apart for its unbeatable location, the newly uplifted Holiday Inn Bangkok on Phloen Chit road surely has a fun vibe that fascinates. With maximum attitude and minimum frills, this staycation impressed us with its new exhilarating and modern design overhaul. mylifestylenews writes.


If you are after a location when settling in a hotel in Bangkok, Holiday Inn Bangkok on Phleon Chit hits the nail on the head. Ideally situated in the heart of the City of Angels and the BTS Skytrain is just right outside of the hotel with adjacent world class shopping malls a stone throw away and directly facing the Erawan Shrine where it receives thousands of daily visitors and locals alike coming here to worship or to eliminate the bad karma which is part of the real soul of Bangkok.


When a Holiday Inn comes into the picture, the business corporate images strike your visual without much of a surprise other than to offer a standard stay with basic comfort without any recollection of memories, neither with any surprise to bring home after your check out.


Now that the recently upgraded Holiday Inn in Bangkok has done wonders and set a new mood that gives free rein to carnivalesque colours, inspiring style and design. This hotel is really in the thick of it especially after its major refurbishment in the lobby as well as the guest rooms.


The new lobby is clean, minimalist and quite atmospheric. Connecxion - the lobby lounge has a huge space and separated into many sub-sections by the “Library” shelves to create more intimacy. Much of the furniture designs and finishes are tailor made to suit the mood and added with a selection of matching bright fabric contrasting a colorful modern and cozy home living, with gracious style and eminent taste.


The new design is full of vibes, adding more life to the usual suspect of the old Holiday Inn standard of style and décor and brings it to the new level with a state of play. Even the carpet plays along with the color tone that adds more liveliness to it. The colors have certainly created a joyful and relaxing atmosphere.


Nothing too straight forward in term of its new design and décor and we weren’t disappointed with our Deluxe Room. Even with the arty yet whimsical carpet selection from the hallway to the room, the design team had certainly taken an exuberant-inspired liveliness to sophisticated new heights.


The hallway leading the rooms


The room themselves are more comfortable than they were, filled with more energy and excitement and display more personality and character. No longer any dull canvas but above the bed was replaced by a piece of art installation with flower motif.


The bed also changes colors to suit different mood in the evening and no more clumsy high back office chair but replaced by modern and sleek designed chairs with color cushion and stools, the framed pop-art picture on the wall, white bedside table lamps as well as the desk lamp, all of which gives a contemporary cosmopolitan living feel to it.


At another end of the design spectrum, offbeat contrasts the modern living lifestyle, mixing up styles and colors, the aesthetic expresses a new optimistic outlook that translates into a cool and confident style.


Even the executive club lounge has a face-lift, soft wood wall panel hosting the flat screen TV with a chic standing white lamp stationed at the corner bringing light and life to the room.


Soft earth tone furniture juxtaposes the tasteful orchids display around the lounge bringing a balance to the mood and harmonizing the entire interior. Overall, you are able to enjoy a greater elevated level of hospitality, personalized services and enhanced benefits.


The hotel swimming pool


Beer Republic is another new add-on to the hotel, drawing more walk-in crowds from day and night, thanks to your ground level locale facing the bustling Phloen Chit road with piped-in groovy music during the day and live band performance at night. Rustic industrial with the Western motif and checked flooring laid around the entire outlet and intimate semi round booth seats are best for small group get togethers.


Ginger is popular for breakfast as well as its sumptuous buffet lunch with tourists, in house guests and local alike and serves a sheer variety of international food and homemade Thai specialties. You can eat your way through the inviting buffet set up that is perfect for foodies and families alike.


Holiday Inn in this region has adopted “fun & joy” as its theme when it comes to the interior design taking on form that further blurs the boundaries between art and design and beyond the tradition. Exploring the state of playful mind, without a doubt, they want you to stay relaxed, stay connected and stay inspired.


Tried & Tested:
Location: 5/5
Design & Decor: 5/5
Room Amenities: 3/5
Food & Beverages: 5/5
Housekeeping: 3/5
Service: 4/5
Value For Money: 4.5/5
Experience: 4.5/5

Highlights:
 Design & Decor

Pathum Wan, 971 Phloen Chit Road
Lumphini, Pathum Wan
Bangkok, Thailand
Tel: +66 2656 1555

Reviews are based on actual day of visit and experience. mylifestylenews reserves the right of final decision in case of any disputes. All images are photographed by mylifestylenews team without any photoshop enhancement and are the property owned by mylifestylenews unless otherwise stated.

Maison Margiela SS2018 ‘Défilé’ Collection

Maison Margiela SS2018 ‘Défilé’ Collection expands and further explores the inspiration introduced in its Artisanal collection last July of proposing the idea of a new glamour. Unconscious glamour materialises through dressing in haste. It is the ritual action of wrapping a towel around one’s head at the spa, clutching a pillow at the airport, or slipping on a simple t-shirt.



Glamorous pastimes inspire their own unwritten codes and become the canvas for a new language of dressing. Creative director John Galliano looks to the wardrobes of leisure pursuits and appropriates the inappropriate. A traditional red riding jacket transforms into a bustier. A hooded bathrobe in jacquard towelling becomes an evening dress.



The t-shirt rises to a new importance as decortiqué is applied, reducing it to its core and trimming it with plumes – a soft harness that can be worn over a tailored coat or an evening gown. Original notions of glamour are repurposed: the bra, the plissé soleil, and gold. A red man’s coat is cut into a dress with a sweetheart neckline and a plissé back. The chaotic glamour of travelling is expressed through in-transit dressing.


The Glam Slam makes its debut on the runway. The new Maison Margiela cult bag is a lightweight cloud-like leather bag in button upholstery, evoking universal associations of comfort. ‘We set out to propose and further explore the idea of a new glamour that seduces us in our everyday lives.’ – Maison Margiela


Appropriating the inappropriate, materials from the pastime wardrobes are introduced into day and eveningwear. Wools associated with outdoor pursuits such as riding appear in dresses and bustiers alongside tattersall check in tailoring, and leather and suede in caban and saharienne jackets. Swimwear jacquard likewise features in tailoring, while monoï shirting cotton is used in bonding. Rose-patterned jacquard towelling is re-appropriated in a bustier and a dress. Materials traditionally associated with glamourous underpinnings serve as juxtaposing components: crin, the honest fabric of haute couture, appears in trench coats. Gold cloqué features in swimsuits, and gold lamé in plissé. Organza is used in dresses and overlays. Plumes and crystals serve as surface decoration.


Maison Margiela’s term for reducing a garment to its core, decortiqué materialises in outerwear, t-shirts, bras and cowboy boots. Coats are cut into dresses and bustiers; trousers are cut as shorts. Overlay veils garments in crin and organza, while a knitwear dress is adorned in looped strands of thread. Bandeaus are embroidered with underwire and pearls, bras and decortiqué t-shirts trimmed in plumes. Skirts are pleated, while dresses in plissé soleil cement the image of glamour. It is further acknowledged in the fronts of pleats on trompe l’oeil dresses cut open to resemble feathers, and in satin sliced to mimic ruffles. Baggage barcode stickers appear on pleats and collars.


Motifs from spa dressing are represented in rose patterns and monoï prints. Colours from the wardrobes of outdoor pastimes include red, black, grey and beige, while gold nods at a traditional idea of glamour. Nude appears throughout.


Maison Margiela introduces its new bag, the Glam Slam. With its rounded curves and soft cloud-like shape, the bag reflects the notion of unconscious glamour. Building on Maison Margiela’s chrome pieces, multi-colour feather marquetry is introduced in large shield-shaped earrings, cuffs, wing cuffs and pendants, which double as garment clips – their flat surfaces hinting a ladies’ powder compacts. Five-ring sets and single handcuffs are embellished with detachable plumes, a feature repeated in metal tube plume earrings. Cowboy belts carry shield-shaped buckles and double-buckles, while cowboy boots are treated with the decortiqué technique.