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Times
6 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Times
How London shapes the world of Vinterior's Sandrine Zhang Ferron
Sandrine Zhang Ferron was born in China, raised in France, educated in business and worked in finance. But a decade ago she had both a moment of realisation and an immediate problem. One, she didn't want to spend her life 'making rich people richer' in finance, and two, she really wanted a yellow Poul Volther chair, but couldn't find one. They became the catalyst for an idea that changed the market for vintage furniture: in 2015 she launched Vinterior, an online marketplace for vintage and pre-owned furniture, lighting, textiles, home decor and art. Ten years on, the platform has 690,000 monthly visits, over half of which are Londoners. 'The city's rhythm, constant energy, and unexpected encounters have made it feel not just like home but the place where everything began,' she says. Now rooted in London, the self-confessed aesthete finds endless inspiration in the city's eclectic mix of cultures, styles and hidden gems. We asked Zhang Ferron to share her favourite spots, from the markets where she unearths unique finds to the places that feed her creativity. Suzhou, the Venice of China, where I lived with my aunt until I was five while my parents were settling in France. Then Lille, in the north of France, where I spent my teenage years. And Paris, where I did my master's, met my husband and built some of my closest friendships. The mix of cultures still lives in me. Split between north London and Mallorca. In London, it's that familiar triangle between Arsenal, Stoke Newington and Highbury, where I had the idea for Vinterior and where the company began. And then there's Puigpunyent, a small village in Mallorca where we spend most summers and long weekends. It's where our daughter learnt to walk, where we celebrated ten years of marriage and where everything slows down. One is full of momentum and energy. The other is quiet, grounding —our reset. • Your guide to life in London: what's new in culture, food and property Curious, convenient, delicious. Queen Elizabeth I, specifically the day after the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. I've always admired leaders who stay composed under pressure, and her Tilbury speech is such a powerful example of that. I'd want to see how she handled the political aftermath, balancing strength and vulnerability, leading in a world that wasn't designed to hear her voice. We'd walk the streets of Tudor London (ideally with good boots and a bit of distance: I'm not sure how often things were cleaned) and I'd ask her how she navigated power without compromise, earned loyalty without giving too much away and kept her independence when the world expected her to marry. Her line 'I have the heart and stomach of a king' captures the mix of courage and restraint that true leadership requires. We [her partner and I] planned to stay in London for two years before moving to Asia — it's now been 18. I doubt I would have started a company, let alone Vinterior, if we'd lived elsewhere. London has this way of opening doors you didn't even know existed. Coming from a French and Chinese background I was used to being very direct and sometimes too direct, as I quickly learnt in my early days here. Highbury Barn is pretty close to perfect. It has everything I could want — La Fromagerie for cheese, Godfreys for amazing cuts, Highbury Fishmongers where I pick up fresh clams every Saturday to make spaghetti alle vongole for lunch (my daughter's favourite), and Da Mario for incredible Italian deli goods. Their fennel sausage, rosemary ham and mortadella are the best I've found in London. Swimming at Hampstead Heath Ladies' Pond. Only in London would cold water before breakfast feel like something people queue up for. There's a little hidden gem just behind London Fields that's become our go-to, aptly named Behind. A young, passionate chef puts out a seafood-led menu that changes with the seasons. The dishes are inventive and full of soul, and the wine list is just as thoughtfully curated. It always feels intimate, like you're in on a secret. I also love Prawn on the Lawn in Highbury for something a bit more relaxed: strong flavours, fresh fish and small plates that are made for sharing. My ideal night out starts with an early dinner, followed by immersive theatre — ideally Punchdrunk. Every experience there is electric. I love the ritual of debriefing with friends afterwards: what they noticed, what I missed, how we each saw something different. It's a brilliant conversation-starter. My ultimate breakfast indulgence is the bacon naan (with an egg, always) at Dishoom; the King's Cross location is my usual. It's a comforting ritual. On the weekends, you'll often find me at the French market on Blackstock Road. Their baguettes and croissants are the real deal and, in January, I always make a pilgrimage for a proper galette des rois. French roots die hard. Vinterior, of course. I used to spend weekends scouring vintage fairs and antique shops, hunting for the perfect piece. Now I can do it all online, from velvet Bellini sofas to sculptural art deco sideboards or a rustic ladder-back chair with just the right patina. It's all about character and history — and convenience. I'm at Third Space Islington four to five times a week: it's my reset button. I mix strength training, HIIT (high-intensity interval training), yoga and Pilates, depending on the day. My favourite mornings start with a tough HIIT session, followed by fifteen minutes in the sauna and five minutes in the cold plunge. It wakes me up on every level. I love the full spectrum — musicals, theatre, immersive performances, opera, ballet — you name it, I'll go. Recently I saw Much Ado About Nothing with Tom Hiddleston and it was absolutely brilliant. London's cultural scene never stops surprising me. When I want to slow down and take it all in, I'll head to the Royal Academy of Arts or the National Portrait Gallery. Both have that perfect blend of iconic works and unexpected discoveries. Whether it's a blockbuster exhibition or something more niche, I always walk away seeing the world a little differently. For me, it's Michaela Coel. She grew up in east London, trained at Guildhall, and created work like I May Destroy You that's bold, uncomfortable, and completely original. She embodies what makes London special: that someone with a strong, honest voice can shape culture without needing permission. She's both deeply local and globally resonant. Her work reminds me this city is where unexpected, anti-conformist voices don't just emerge, they thrive.
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
Carmel Harrison Invites Us To Tour Her Spiritual Second Home
Carmel Harrison brings an elegant and nomadic spirit into the serene, story-filled interiors of her Palm Jumeirah home There is an immediate, grounding warmth when you enter Carmel Harrison's home. It's in the way sunlight kisses polished concrete floors, how green marble glows against hand-hewn wood, and in the quiet, soulful presence of books and keepsakes from faraway places. As founder and creative force behind the resort wear label Second Summer, Carmel has mastered the art of storytelling – not just in fashion, but in the very spaces she inhabits. Much like her brand, her home is an homage to the places that have shaped her. Chief among them is Ibiza, the Balearic island she calls her 'spiritual second home', and the muse behind Second Summer. 'If I can't live there yet,' she says, 'I'll bring the island to me.' That meant designing a space rooted in contrast and calm – bohemian yet refined, earthy yet elevated. The result is a home that doesn't just reflect her aesthetic, but also embodies her worldview: soulful, sun-warmed and deeply personal. Carmel launched Second Summer as a counter to the fast-paced, trend-chasing fashion industry. Her collections are imbued with a sense of ease and effortlessness, inspired by years of travels to Ibiza, Sri Lanka, South Africa and the Maldives. 'Every capsule is built with intention,' she says. 'They're meant to layer, evolve and live with you – not be replaced.' This philosophy of considered longevity carries over seamlessly into the design of her home. The house, which she shares with her husband and two daughters in Dubai, is not the product of an interior designer's vision but a deeply personal, hands-on project. 'From the statement mirror wall to the light switches, we chose everything ourselves,' she explains. Even the home's focal point – lush slabs of green marble – was selected years before the property was purchased, after a single image saved to Pinterest lingered in her imagination. 'I never let go of the vision.' Texture and tactility reign. Heavy woods, solid travertine and smooth green stone give weight and presence to the space. Cream walls offer a neutral canvas for light and shadow to play, while vintage mirrors and copper accents add softness and reflection. 'I grew up watching my dad work with raw materials – cutting stone, shaping timber – and that honesty in design stayed with me,' Carmel says. 'For me, natural materials carry more than aesthetics – they carry soul.' Furniture, too, follows the rhythm of the family's life. Most of it is bespoke, designed by Carmel and her husband and crafted to echo their daily rituals. There's a sense of quiet craftsmanship in every corner: built-in wardrobes, custom shelving and sculptural tables carved with simplicity and function in mind. Yet the home never feels curated – it feels lived in. Personal artefacts are everywhere: linen placemats from her great-grandmother, Beatrix Potter ornaments passed down by her grandmother and trinkets from beach markets and flea stalls collected across continents. 'I've always been drawn to things with history,' she reflects. 'Pieces you can't find in a store. They carry memory, which makes them feel alive.' Books on design, poetry and photography line the shelves and coffee tables, serving as both inspiration and atmosphere. 'I collect them obsessively. They're part of the way I think, and create. They bring texture to the space in a different way.' Tableware from Dinosaur Designs and Rebecca Udall add artful elegance, while Montroi's home fragrances infuse each room with an evocative, nomadic energy. Textural grounding comes via Jaipur Rugs, while ceramics by Nicola Gillis lend sculptural softness to the shelves and sideboards. Cushions from Maison Sarah Lavoine punctuate the home with subtle hits of colour and Parisian charm. It's no surprise, then, that the house doesn't conform to one design dogma. Carmel's style is fluid, much like her collections. 'I wouldn't call it minimalist or wabi-sabi,' she muses. 'It's more intuitive. I love the tension between glossy and rugged, bold and neutral. It's not about rules – it's about what feels right.' This instinctive layering creates a home that feels both curated and completely natural, where every surface invites touch and every object tells a story. The synergy between her creative practice and her interior world is unmistakable. As Second Summer has evolved, so too has Carmel's approach to space. 'I've become more intentional,' she says. 'I've learned how much design can shape how we feel – how energy, texture and atmosphere impact the everyday.' That sensitivity to space informs both her collections and her home. 'They've grown together. My house is a reflection of where I've been and what I hope to carry forward.' For Carmel, beauty is never just aesthetic – it's emotional. Whether through a dress that remembers a summer romance or a mirror that has followed her across countries and decades, she surrounds herself with objects that mean something. 'People often think a home has to be perfect to be beautiful,' she says. 'But real beauty is in the story. In the layers. In the soul.' And if there's one thing both her brand and her home make clear, it's this: Carmel Harrison doesn't just design for a lifestyle – she lives it. With an editorial sensibility shaped by years in fashion and a traveller's heart guided by instinct, she has created a home that is not merely designed, but deeply felt. It's not Ibiza. But in its quiet textures and sunlit corners, it comes remarkably close.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's historic Western Market slated for renovation
A view of the interior of Western Market. Photo: Sam Tsang A view of the interior of Western Market. Photo: Sam Tsang share
Washington Post
28-05-2025
- General
- Washington Post
10 ways to get a better outdoor space without spending a lot of money
Outdoor spaces are often treated like afterthoughts, but they should get top billing this time of year. The good news: You don't need much effort — or a ton of money — to spruce yours up. 'Even one little settee with a couple of colorful pillows can make a huge impact,' said Gideon Mendelson, the founder and creative director of Mendelson Group in New York. Here's how to freshen up your piece of the outdoors, whether it's a balcony, deck, terrace, patio or yard.
South China Morning Post
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Grand Ocean Cinema in Hong Kong's Tsim Sha Tsui set to shutter after 56 years
People take photos in the interior of Grand Ocean Cinema. Photo: Elson Li People take photos in the interior of Grand Ocean Cinema. Photo: Elson Li share
