Latest news with #bespoke
Cosmopolitan ME
9 hours ago
- Business
- Cosmopolitan ME
Cosmo Cribs: I dropped most of my paycheck on this item and I don't regret it
Okay, hear me out. Dropping a large portion of your paycheck on a single piece of furniture sounds chaotic… but what if it's actually a power move? I'm talking about a fully custom-made-for-you item. When I moved into my new place, I promised myself I wouldn't go down the basic couch route just because it was 'easy.' I wanted something that looked like me. Neutral, yes, but also cosy, and a little bit fancy. After deep-diving into the furniture side of Instagram, I found Palm Living and instantly fell into a rabbit hole. Their vibe? European minimalism meets modern desert girl. Sold. Palm Living is based in Dubai and specialises in bespoke furniture that doesn't feel like everyone else's Pinterest board. You don't just click 'add to cart', you actually design the piece with them. I booked a visit to their showroom, and it was giving 'main character on a home makeover show.' Think perfectly lit setups, cosy textures, and helpful humans who genuinely want your sofa to be a 10/10. I tested different styles, lounged on everything as if I lived there, and then got into the fabrics, which was the best part. Boucle, velvet, chunky cotton blends… literal heaven and the team guided me through foam firmness (yes, that matters), custom sizing, and finishing touches. It felt less like shopping and more like curating your future living room personality. I landed on a cloud sofa with textured fabric that's basically the quiet luxury of couches. When it arrived, I actually gasped. It changed the entire energy of my space. It didn't just look good, it made me want to light a candle, put on a face mask, and take a thousand photos of my living room. Was it cheap? No. But honestly, investing in quality furniture is peak self-care. We're in our soft homebody era. I wanted something that wouldn't flatten in a year or become dated. I wanted a couch that would survive mood swings, dinner parties, and spirals alike. And I got it. The best part? Palm Living isn't some faceless furniture chain. The brand was founded in 2020 by two British co-founders, Nikki Martin and Karen Dougall, who wanted to bring affordable, high-quality, Euro-inspired design to Dubai. Everything is made to order in their own UAE-based factory, and all their designs are created in-house. So no, I don't regret spending most of my paycheck. My sofa is hot, my space is calm, and I now have a living room that looks like it was curated by someone who has their life together…even if I don't. Visit if you're ready to enter your custom furniture era. Just don't blame me when you start planning your next glow-up around a boucle armchair.
Reuters
26-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Antonovich Group: #1 Turnkey Interior Design and Renovation Company in Dubai
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, May 26, 2025 (EZ Newswire) -- In a city where architectural brilliance meets modern sophistication, the Antonovich Group, opens new tab has firmly established itself as the leading force. Recognized as the best interior design company in Dubai and unequivocally the best fit out company in Dubai, opens new tab, Antonovich Group commands an unrivaled reputation for delivering exquisite villas and apartments, setting new benchmarks in bespoke living environments — where aesthetics, functionality, and innovation are seamlessly united. Their most recent project — a complete transformation of a private residence at Kempinski — exemplifies Antonovich Group's signature approach: intelligent design, custom craftsmanship, and flawless project execution, all delivered within four months. From marble flooring and detailed wood paneling to custom-made lighting installations and advanced smart home integration, every detail was precisely curated to reflect refined taste and elevated comfort. The project showcases what the Antonovich Group does best: turn spaces into works of livable art. Turnkey Solutions with Signature Excellence What sets Antonovich Group apart is its ability to manage every project phase — from concept to final styling — with complete precision. Their comprehensive services include: Final Handover: Fully Furnished and Move-In Ready With an elite client base spanning Palm Jumeirah, Downtown Dubai, Emirates Hills, and beyond, Antonovich Group continues to attract homeowners, developers, and investors looking for excellence without compromise. "Our mission is to elevate everyday living into something exceptional," says Katrina Antonovich, opens new tab, the creative force behind the company's design direction. Each project is built around the client's individuality, with no detail left to chance." The Trusted Name in High-End Interiors Recognized globally for its iconic aesthetic and faultless execution, Antonovich Group has become the go-to studio for luxury interior design and renovation across the UAE. Their deep understanding of space, materials, and client expectations has earned them a place among the most respected design firms in the Middle East. Whether it's a modern penthouse, a neoclassical villa, or a hospitality space — the firm's portfolio is a testament to timeless design and elite craftsmanship. About Antonovich Group Antonovich Group is Dubai's #1 interior design and fit-out company, offering full-scope design and renovation services for residential, commercial, and hospitality projects. With headquarters in Dubai and a portfolio spanning the UAE, GCC, and beyond, the firm delivers bespoke, turnkey solutions for the world's most discerning clients. For more information, visit Media Contact Dmytro Verzhykovskyiinfo@ ### SOURCE: Antonovich Group Copyright 2025 EZ Newswire See release on EZ Newswire
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
I was size 6 when I met my husband. Now I'm size 16 and people say he'll leave me and I'm deluded to think he loves me: TALLY RYE
On her wedding day last June, Tally Rye looked and felt stunning in her bespoke gown. 'I've never felt so amazing,' she says. And yet, at a size 14-16, she was the heaviest she'd ever been.
Times
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Where luxury meets ASMR: Phillipa Lepley
One of London's most in-demand wedding dress makers, Phillipa Lepley has been selling gowns on the Fulham Road for over three decades. Lepley's dresses are all bespoke and handmade at the brand's atelier in Chelsea. The designer grew up in Nottinghamshire, where she was introduced to fashion through her grandmothers, one of whom was a court tailoress. Lepley attended London College of Fashion before opening her first wedding dress atelier in South Kensington in 1989. The Lepley dressmaking process begins with a consultation, in which the bride shares her vision with the brand's designers. They can offer various silhouettes, fabrics, necklines, corsetry and embellishments. Fabric swatches and design sketches will be provided, and then there will be a series of fittings. International clients should fear not — it's possible to do some elements of the process via phone and video call. Phillipa Lepley is not only a destination for brides, but also a place to find couture evening wear — the Princess of Wales is one of the brand's fans. Lepley's evening dresses are bespoke as well and follow a similar design process to her wedding dresses, cut to fit each wearer. Watch one of the designer's gowns move, and let it soothe your worried mind.
Telegraph
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Meet the artisans bringing the craft back to bespoke car interiors
Cars are increasingly labelled 'computers on wheels', mainly due to bewildering technical sophistication and a perceived lack of traits that are invariably related to 'character'. So you might think that the current industry recruitment imperative would be to attract computer geeks and digital artists. But you would be wrong: the luxury car makers are scouring the planet for, wait for it... tattoo artists, embroiderers, florists and people who make saddles for horses. Why? Despite the world's financial woes and the impact of Storm Donald, premium marques are seeing strong demand, with customers specifying bespoke features that no computer or 3D printer can make look like the work of an artisan. But such skilled craftspeople are in short supply, so Rolls-Royce, for one, is getting creative with sourcing its artistic resource. The company's flagship Phantom, in its centenary year, starts at about £435,000, customers specifying personalisation amounting to an additional six- or seven-figure bill. I took £600,000-worth of Phantom to Woodend Mill near Mossley, Greater Manchester, home to dozens of small creative businesses, to get the reactions of a leatherworker and an embroiderer. Each of them runs training courses aimed at keeping artisanal and craftsmanship skills alive, along with a tattoo artist who has to get it 100 per cent right every time. The Phantom was modestly laden with luxury add-ons, but still featuring hand-crafted luxury beyond anything most people will experience. Inspiration I also showed them images of Rolls-Royce's most recent bespoke Phantom Cherry Blossom, created for a Japanese client wanting to recreate Sakura, the short-lived blossom season, as an interior ambience. They marvelled at the quality of the work in the Phantom, then intently examined the Phantom Cherry Blossom images. Penny-drop looks were exchanged as it dawned on each they likely had the skills to contribute to such cars – or to train others. Rolls-Royce has employed at least one former tattoo artist. Tattooing is a sometimes maligned career choice, nevertheless requiring artistic talent and accuracy. The tattoo artist Bogdan Voda, 39, runs Tattoo Hut Studio in Woodend Mill. He came to the UK from Romania in 2009 to work in nursing, but in 2012 started turning his creative interest into a business, consequently winning awards. His skills and traits suddenly strike you as highly Rolls-Royce-relevant, given the brand's meticulous standards: 'I am detail-obsessed. I simply cannot make a mistake when I'm tattooing a client,' he said, drawing the comparison between working on human skin and high-quality leather as he closely examines the interior and exterior detail of the Phantom. 'That [Cherry Blossom] Rolls-Royce, it's very like the tattooing industry; we work with bespoke pieces, people tell us their vision, their ideas, and we create unique designs for them. That is the similarity. The embroiderer Victoria Merness, 58, owns The Little House of Victoria, creating works of embroidery for sale and running training workshops. She cast her professional eye over the interior images of the Cherry Blossom limousine, including its Japanese Tatami-style embroidered headlining finish. 'Wow. I work and tutor in the Japanese techniques of Sashiko and Boro, with Japanese threads and fabrics. I could probably do that,' she said. She was a furniture buyer for a major retailer but lost her job during the pandemic, so she decided to turn her interest in arts and crafts into an earner, going to university and qualifying as a teacher. She worries for the future of artisan and crafts skills. 'In my workshops I've only had a handful of people in their teen years,' she said. 'It frustrates me that there's so few youngsters and that arts is underfunded and consistently taken off the curriculum. In 2023, the creative industries contributed £124 billion to the UK economy.' Championing artisanship The luxury car industry contributes about £80 billion to the UK economy and supports at least 450,000 jobs. 'We need a brand like Rolls-Royce to champion artisanship,' said Merness. 'We live in a world of robotically-produced things, so for the company to see the value in artisan skills that have taken years to hone is significant.' The design and embroidery of the Phantom Cherry Blossom spanned six months; three weeks alone to embroider more than 250,000 stitches. The embroidered cherry tree's Tatami stitch is an ancient Japanese weave technique, with cherry blossom flowers formed of satin-stitch petals. Merness is mesmerised by its quality. One hundred years ago, when the first Rolls-Royce Phantom was introduced, artisans and craftsmen and women abounded, their skills the norm, honed and developed across centuries. Today's elite car manufacturers can deploy techniques allowing customers to specify just about anything in terms of design. Some one-off Rolls-Royce cars run up £20 million-plus price tags. Dreams into reality But the issue is turning digital dreams into reality. And that involves hand-made finishes to wood, textiles and leather. Jason Stocks-Young, 55, runs courses from Diamond Awl Leather Workshop. At 40, he felt uninspired working in a big London digital marketing agency but sensed he had found himself during an arts and crafts show visit. 'One stall that caught my eye was all this leather handcrafted stuff – and saddles. And I think, 'That's amazing'. I asked the guy on the stand, Peter Laight, if he could teach me; he said yes. I felt I'd always had it in me. He was happy to share all these skills,' said Stocks-Young. 'My mindset was very much the idea of teaching it. It has been a really good journey, and it continues. I'm always learning.' He believes luxury brands should look to the UK's regions for talent: 'North of Watford, in places like Lancashire, Manchester, Bradford, Leeds, there's such a pool of talent, it's just getting lost.' Can the Government do more? But, he says, he sees perhaps only one 'great young talent' every six months passing through his workshops. He questions whether the UK Government is sufficiently supporting arts and crafts and helping generate a pipeline of talent, given the potential in the luxury industries. He looks to both education and modern-day youth to step up, and education at all levels to identify and support the artisanal potential in students, adding that young creative talent needs to adopt a different mindset. 'Young artisans and craftspeople need to have dedication, commitment. That means working with a disciplined mindset, not thinking about what they have on tonight, for instance,' he said. 'Focus on one thing, don't be multitasking on millions of things. Yes, I do blame social media, all these distractions for kids who have the ability, to focus and reach that high level, and end up somewhere like Rolls-Royce.' Striving for perfection Phil Fabre de la Grange, Head of Bespoke, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars dangled the carrot – or should that be carat? – to a new generation of artisans. 'The team behind Rolls-Royce's creations is as eclectic as the marque's offerings. Their backgrounds and life stories vary remarkably – from those with highly-specialised professional training in their field, including those who completed their apprenticeship at the home of Rolls-Royce, to individuals who have pursued their passions after careers in completely different sectors,' he said. 'This diversity of experience and expertise allows the Rolls-Royce team to bring a unique blend of skills and perspectives to their craft. One thing that unites us all is a common 'can-do' mindset – striving for perfection to bring our clients' dreams to reality.' And perhaps create dreams for young people with talents for which they didn't realise there was a demand.
