Beautiful! After visiting the breathtaking Rosenborg Castle, I took a stroll through the botanical garden located nearby. It was time to take in a more low maintenance sight; nature. The large hairy bumblebees were out and about humming cheerfully. J'adore, cute enough to pet!



The Botanic Garden houses the largest collection of living plants in Denmark and the only seed and gene bank for plants from nature.

One thing that is for certain is that I will never stop appreciating the fine art of extravagant and historic castles! My not so secret love! Stopped by the renaissance Rosenborg Castle located in the center of Copenhagen, Denmark.  It was built in the Dutch Renaissance style which was typical of Danish buildings during this period.



The castle was used by Danish regents as a royal residence until around 1710. Its decor is simply to die for! I loved everything I saw inside, including the chandeliers, carpets, paintings, furniture, and wall paper.



Located in the Long Hall which was originally intended as a ballroom is the coronation chair of the absolutist kings and the throne of the queens with the three silver lions standing in front.



Bling! Clearly my royal jewelry collection needs an upgrade in order to keep up with this bad boy seen displayed in the royal treasury.



The decor was big, dark and dramatic. With the renaissance being an intellectual transformation and cultural movement, it encompassed a flowering of literature, science, art, religion, and politics.



I have decided that a knight's armor is an absolute must when decorating my future home!



I'm ready to move in immediately! This is just my style.



Roar! This would naturally be my everyday uniform.

Love! My darling Karl Lagerfeld is coming to Copenhagen!

Returned to Nicolai Bergmann's Copenhagen boutique located inside Royal Copenhagen’s flagship store on Amagertorv, in the heart of Stroget. Exciting! There was plenty of new things on display but I especially love his work with moss. The combination of the delicate orchids and dark mysterious fuss known as moss couldn't be more intoxicating.

Here comes a virtual postcard greeting from Copenhagen! It goes out to all of my darlings who couldn't be with me for this trip.



Here stands the Danish Kongelige Livgarde (Royal Life Guards). The Royal Guards provide a permanent guard at the Amalienborg Palace, Kastellet (part of the old fortification of Copenhagen), Rosenborg Castle/garrison of the Royal Guards in Copenhagen and the garrison of Høvelte. The ordinary uniform of the Royal Life Guards while they are on guard duty is dark blue. Their full dress uniform is very similar to that of the Foot Guards regiments of the British Army: a scarlet tunic; blue trousers; and a bearskin with the regiment's cap badge (the Sun and Royal Coat of Arms).



Drama at the altar! Stopped by Frederick's Church which is located just north of Amalienborg Palace. The church was designed by the architect Nicolai Eigtved in 1740 and has the largest church dome in Scandinavia with a span of 31m. However, there are three larger domes elsewhere in Europe.



Here is the old organ facade.

Back in Copenhagen again, and jetlagged like crazy, I figured a day out would help me deal with it. I went to Tage Andersen's boutique in Ny Adelgade 12. Entering the Tage Andersen world of magic, I was met by a surrounding that was quite surreal. The boutique and museum was filled with a wide range of beautiful flowers and even several exotic birds that chirped most theatrically in the background. I especially fell in love with these two light green small parrots!



After walking through the magical boutique, I ended up in this beautiful pavilion just outside in the courtyard. Nature's paradise.



The pavilion was just as exotic and tropical as the boutique itself featuring soft, small waterfalls with goldfish swimming freely inside.



It was a bit like taking a trip back in time to a lovely romantic setting filled with candles and opera music tinkering in the background. Not only were the flower arrangements carefully designed by Mr. Andersen himself but also much of the furniture used and displayed within the boutique.



Everything was in symbiosis with a true rustic feel to it. It could just as well have been a chic Parisian apartment and I am ready to move in straight away!



Love, love, love!

Darlings, get ready because I'm starting my own jewelry line! This means that you will also be the first to get an exclusive sneak peek! Lately I've been hard at work designing my first collection, hope you'll like it.



Why start small when you can start big? My first collection features a range of earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. I am also considering adding rings later on depending on how they are received.



Channeling a rocker chic in my own way I mixed the fierce looking skulls with pearls in order to juxtapose the two different kinds of beads.



Reow! Disregarding the fur on my arms, don't the bracelets look fab? Blinged up and ready to hit the town!



The blue works perfectly with jeans and the lime green is just so fresh, it's unbelievable! I'm so happy with how it turned out! Starting my own jewelry line also help me practice the techniques used when making them.



Loves it! The shiny black crystal mixed with the soft white pearls looked killer! Super sharp!



The great thing with these lovelies is that you can totally mix and match them. They can also be piled on to glam up any outfit.

A passion for fashion is not my only delight, I also have a great desire to constantly redecorate my room. Shabby chic? That's not exactly how I roll, as you can probably see. Instead, glitter and glamour are my allure! I say, absolutely fabulous indeed.



It is those rare statement pieces and small subtle things that can make or break a room. Personally I like mine to feel intimate, soft and romantic.



J'adore! I recently purchased this stunning carpet which will help make my room ever so more grand.

D-R-A-M-A!!! The book Gucci Wars promises to be rather a scandalous read but I'm more excited to learn about the story behind the legendary brand! "How I survived murder and intrigue at the heart of the world's biggest fashion house" reads the headlines.

I love the crafty side of 798! Although it's mainly an art distric, it has become more of a community where people gather and share a common interest for creativity and visual expression.



Down one of the narrow streets I found a funky little stand selling wire creations such as these rose-shaped rings. I couldn't help but buying three for myself. I chose black, silver, and pink as all colors can easily be styled to nearly every outfit.



Fierce! The artist making these made it look so simple, with only a few turns of the wire he had a new creation ready.

Tatsuo Miyajima, HOTO, LED, electric wire, stainles steel, iron frame, h.549 x d.208 cm, 2008.

In Tatsuo Miyajima, Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust exhibition blingtastic and future, space galactic seem to be the right description. Each of his pieces employ different sets of tools to express the visceral nature of time and draw the viewer into the experience.



Tatsuo Miyajima, Mega Death

With its mysterious blue glow, Mega Death, forces us to confront a truly terrifying number: 167,000,000, the estimated number of lives lost to war, revolution, violent conflict and genocide in the 20th century. The transformation and glitter of the numbers symbolize "life" of man and the darkness of "zero" symbolizes "death". In Buddhist philosophy, the life of man is interpreted as the repetition of "life" and "death". In other words, "death" is not an end, but is similar to sleep as a preparation for the "next birth".



Wang Shang, Genus Camelliris, H, Twins who never hold hands, Cultivation initiation date: 2009

Also on show were these fabulous glittering earrings. Wang Shang, although graduated from Goldsmiths College, his interests go beyond art. Fascinated by philosophy and science, Wang used his own knowledge and theories of this in order to create his exhibition Sleuthing. The artist describes his show like this, "those things you see with glittering, pearly skin are new plant species under development, and the structures that look like cultivation beds are actually the plants' roots. They reach deep into the soil, absorbing life-sustaining minerals and nutrients. The future of these plants, of course, is also vital to the future of humanity". He refers to the exhibition space as a plant known as
Lab No. 725, where his identity code is 07X351.

While in 798, I stopped by the newly opened Pin Gallery to see what they had in store for me. Their current exhibition was Four People Four Ways, featuring world famous Chinese artists such as titan Fang Lijun, Xiao Yu, Wang Yin, and Yang Maoyuan. Here's a selection of their works. Enjoy!



Fang Lijun, 2011 Ongoing, Oil on canvas, 400 x 875 cm, 2011



Xiao Yu, Definition of Rise, Wooden Frames, 218 x 218 x 130 cm, 2011



Fang Lijun, Everlasting Fortune, Oil on canvas, 250 x 360 cm, 2011

The Resurrection, 2010, Oil on Canvas, 390 x 330 cm.



Stopped by Pace to see the latest work of Chinese mega-artist 岳敏君 (Yue Minjun). The Beijing based artist is best known for his contemporary style in depicting himself with a laughter in a cynical, self-ironic manner.



The Baptism of Christ, 2010, Oil on Canvas, 450 x 300 cm

These are the first pastel and candy colored works I have seen by the artist who usually tends to use more demure colors. I have to say that I'm a big fan of his new use of color! The works are much more interesting with each figure now having their own personality because of their color yet, still depicted wearing that same killer smile. The figures are much more flamboyant! Yue is exploring religion and particularly Jesus and Christianity as a theme.



The Entombment, 2010, Oil on Canvas, 380 x 300 cm.

At the National Museum of China (!), I stopped by to see the Louis Vuitton Voyages exhibition which runs until August 30th. The exclusive fashion brand of luxury suitcases showed promise as it raved to show hundreds of handmade luggage.



The exhibition did not let down! It wowed me completely, not only by the sheer size of the show but also the range of items on display. Customized luxury suitcases for every imaginable activity and whim, including features necessary only for camping,



It was a Parisian wonderland, showing the art of classic luxury living!



While strolling down the infinite lanes of extravagant and lavish goods, I couldn't keep myself from daydreaming of another time when these beautiful works were in legitimate use. Imagining a Maharaja travelling in style with his personalized shaving kit in hand as he steps onto a fine coal fuelled steam boat. What a lovely escape, it felt as if I were along for his and many other glamorous celebrities' journeys around the world.



Some pieces were simply too cute for words! However, a common thread between the work was that everything was extremely well planned and practical. I certainly would have loved to have one of these cases when I was younger!




The exhibition focused not only on its glorious, successful past but also the brand's transition through the years. Staying in touch with the latest technology, this ultra modern case guarantees safe travelling with your most precious cargo, an iPod with a fierce base.



I appreciate and absolutly love what the Louis Vuitton brand did with their display. Not only did the exhibition act as a small history lesson but also as a big celebration for the Parisian brand, which was founded in 1854. What a triumphant success!



Fireworks set the mood.

Proving he is as inventive as always, Japanese designer Issey Miyaki presented his latest stroke of genius with a display featuring three paper orgami inspired dresses in his Minami-Aoyama store. His truly innovative style comes forth in the technology-driven clothing designs, exhibitions and fragrances.

The flower power continues, as I managed to find Nicolai Bergmann's flagship store here in 5-7-2 Minami-Aoyama. Exciting! The store was a-m-a-z-i-n-g, very large and even featured its own cute little café which was jam-packed with Tokyo's elite.



The store featured lots of fun and quirky designs, I especially enjoyed this egg chair covered in moss. It was originally designed by Arne Jacobsen for SAS Hotel, Copenhagen, in 1958.

Walking the streets of central Tokyo can sometimes leave you completely bewildered. The tall skyscrapers tower above you as you stroll along the narrow winding streets.



In the right or wrong setting it can feel a bit like watching the horror film The Grudge, directed by Takashi Shimizu.

Notorious for the number of cute items on the market, Tokyo takes first prize. Hanging at Shinjuku's Takashimaya, I drooled over the Q-Pot boutique stand which featured delicious candy themed jewelry and displays.



Yum, resisting my urge of desperately wanting to pick up one of the maccaroon necklaces and eating it, I instead went on to purchase the gorgeous pink one. Fabu!



In the Minato district I walked the bustling streets of 六本木, (Roppongi), where the nightlife scene is extremely active to say the least. It is also where I found this adorable little pup. Too cute to be true! This darling French bulldog was born on April 26th.

Went over to Tokyo for a couple of days to check out the scene and enjoy a few days out on the town. Here is the statuesque Tokyo Tower, the equivalent of the Eiffel Tower but in Japan.



Delicious! Eating やきとり (yaki tori) is a total must! Yaki tori can include everything from poultry to vegetables. It is made from several bite-sized pieces put on a bamboo skewer and grilled, usually over charcoal.



Here is the master chef himself; you can easily keep an eye on what is going on in the kitchen as you dine around the grill.



Sipping iced green tea in the summer heat and enjoying the fabulous taste of my favorite やきとり dishes! Yum, what a treat!

After stopping by David Ben Kay's 798 house/gallery and on my way out of the vast neighborhood, I found the cutest stand selling vintage toy motor vehicles and couldn't stand the thought of coming home without one! What can I say, I'm in love! Although it has a London flag on the roof which seems appropriate considering the fact that I'm moving there, it has a Beijing license plate marked 798. Seems the perfect item to mark my transition from Beijing to London. J'adore!

I just had the rare opportunity to visit one of David Ben Kay's (康如松) residences which is located in the popular 798 Art District neighborhood.



The house which is used both as a mansion and entertaining venue is also used as a gallery displaying art by selected artists. It is a masterpiece, filled with exclusive and quirky art and decor as well as several statement pieces of furniture designed by David Ben Kay (康如松) himself.



The Renaissance sculptor and painter Michelangelo's David appeared to play a vital role in the decor. A plastic chair made in the shape of David's severed nose stood as a center piece and a large sideboard made of marble in admiration of his lips.



Here you can see the ever so lovely David in pink however, with his missing lips, nose, and ear.



As I was exploring the house/gallery there was also a photoshoot/ photo-installation by French visual artist Niko de La Faye that was being documented. Exciting!

Went wild at the lovely lifestyle boutique Illums Bolighus. They had so many gorgeous things that I couldn't help but shop up half of the store. I'm currently decorating my college room and can safely reassure you that it will look absolutely splendid when the time comes!

Here is yet another world renowned flower artist and designer based in Copenhagen. Tage Andersen, ladies and gentlemen...

Alberto Giacometti, Femmes de Venise, 1956

Who knew that Denmark had a MOMA (Museum Of Modern Art)? I had no idea but found it to be true as I visited Louisiana, located in Humlebæk.



Tal R, Downhill (Gelb), 2001, Oil on canvas

At first sight, the gallery looked extremely small, like any other house but inside art quickly filled up the rooms and gardens. Both underneath the house and the garden outside, lay numerous floors not revealed at first glance. Not only did I see works by renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso, Roy Lichtenstein but also Tai R to mention a few.



Pablo Picasso, Déjeuner sur l'herbe, 1961, Oil on canvas



At the gallery's cafe a seagull managed to snag a sandwich off an unsuspecting victim who was enjoying his lunch outside. Much to my surprise, this event proved more interesting to the many visitors than the vast collection of art.



Staying en garde, I took a quick break in order to enjoy a tart aux fraise before returning home. Yum!