The Luxury Defined edit of what’s new and noteworthy in the world of fine dining, entertaining, and gourmet living
It’s time to take gourmet living to the next level, as we take a closer look at the latest in the world’s most beautiful design for kitchens, tables, and dining rooms.
In 1984, British wine critic Jancis Robinson became the first person outside the wine trade to become a Master of Wine. And she is as discerning about the vessels she drinks from as the wine itself, which is why she teamed up with designer Richard Brendon on the 1 Collection. “I was looking for the perfect wine glass,” she says. “I have never understood why white wine glasses are routinely smaller than those designed for red wine… it just seemed so obvious and sensible to have a single glass for all three colors.” The 1 Wine Glass is made of ultrafine mouth-blown crystal, and the collection includes two decanters and a water glass.
richardbrendon.com
Bowen Liu says her work is dedicated to providing people with a peaceful living environment. “The work is made to last,” she says. “It’s thoughtful and timeless.” Working from a Brooklyn studio, Liu handcrafts furniture and objects that “help bring people together and share good things.” Designs include the curvilinear, ergonomic U3 Bar Cart, whose clever trays are designed to prevent bottles and diningware from falling off, and the Gathering Low Table, intended to create an intimate and casual dining atmosphere.
bowenliustudio.com
Fredrik Berselius, the powerhouse behind two-Michelin-starred New York restaurant Aska, has just written his first book, named after the restaurant, which follows his journey from Sweden (he was born in Stockholm) to Brooklyn. No ordinary cookbook, Aska (Swedish for ashes) reveals the chef’s views on good design, essential kitchen equipment, and what makes good service. There are recipes too, of course, so that you can try some of Aska’s magic for yourself.
askanyc.com; phaidon.com
“As design possibilities open up, so do the choice of furniture solutions and freedom of expression to use them,” says Matt Phillips, Rotpunkt’s operations head for the United Kingdom. “By inviting nature into the kitchen we are able to remove the boundaries between indoors and out.” The company’s new Zerox Fineline XT Snow Kitchen is the perfect example as it features an innovative herb box—a dedicated area in which to cultivate cooking ingredients. The natural environment is important to the German company—its kitchen cupboards are made of 100 percent recyclable BioBoard.
rotpunktuk.com
“Tableware is the setting for what will be the focus of any dinner party—the food,” says American gallery owner Rebecca Willer. “It sets the stage, whether dramatically or quietly, we see it before the food arrives and after the meal is over.” Formerly a lawyer doing “my own creative projects on the side,” Willer opened her London gallery to offer a selection of things she loved—furniture, textiles, design objects, and tableware. The back of the room is lined with shelves and tables that house an ever-changing selection from makers around the globe, and from it, Willer helps her clients curate their collection. “The process is collaborative and creative,” she says. “Clients ‘paint with plates.’” Willer encourages clients to mix and match shapes, sizes, finishes, glazes, and colors to create utterly unique table settings.
willer.co.uk
