Get the low-down from the original style-seekers' latest good-time hunting expeditions, find destination inspiration and insider tips from around the world. Welcome to the official Smith blog: we hope you enjoy your stay
The vogue for gorgeous wallpaper, pattern and print in boutique hotels – and homes – throughout the world owes a lot to the posthumous revival of Australian talent Florence Broadhurst’s dreamy designs. New Zealand-born, Sydney-based husband-and-wife team David and Helen Lennie (left) of Signature Prints can take credit for putting Florence firmly back on the [...]
When we launched our debut collection of Smith boutique hotels in Sri Lanka recently, one name kept coming up. That of the country’s most famous architect, Geoffrey Bawa (1919-2003). We’ve rounded up some of the world’s best boutique hotel designers before, but in no other place that Smith has delved for hotel gold, has one [...]
This month, Rob our resident TuneSmith, has come over all nostalgic, soundtracking high summer with a band that references Nineties greats and taking his turntable back to 1962 to relive the pioneering jazz sounds of Ray Charles… ALBUM OF THE MONTH Buffalo by The Phoenix Foundation When? You need an indie fix Why? It’s all [...]
Bean there, done that? You haven’t earned your caffeinated stripes until you’ve toured Melbourne’s best cafés. Like Seattle and Milan, this is a city obsessed with sourcing the perfect cup of coffee, with baristas roasting, grinding, blending, brewing and pouring as if their beards depended on it (the Victorian gent-meets-outlaw-Ned Kelly look is big here [...]
Best afternoon tea in London? Team Smith bloggers Lucy Fennings and Sarah Jappy brew up a top 10 selection of the capital’s tastiest teatime treats
The highlight of any summer down under is the line-up of festivals from events expert Ming Gan (right, in the Maldives) of Fuzzy, including Parklife, Field Day and the iconic New Year’s Eve bashes on Bondi Beach, Shore Thing. As a Smith tastemaker, Ming recently swapped bands’ riders for boardshorts to review idyllic Thai escape [...]
As we swing into summer, TuneSmith Rob Wood is entranced by globetrotting Ethiopian dub, and reliving the cult punk-folk soundtrack of his misspent youth… ALBUM OF THE MONTH Addis Through the Looking Glass by Dub Colossus When? Your ears need a walkabout Why? It’s Addis Ababa meets Kingston en route to Womad If you’re as [...]
When we decided it was time for an exclusively Antipodean guidebook to add to our ever-expanding library for stylish globetrotters, our first port of call was acclaimed Australian photographer Earl Carter (right). Melbourne-based Earl has roamed the world shooting hotel, food and interiors pictures for A-list magazines and books, so who better to quiz for [...]
As one of Australia’s top interior stylists, vintage maven Lyn Gardener (right, with Jack) is kept on her toes running a gorgeous emporium in Albert Park, South Melbourne, a decorating business and a holiday home in our Smith & Friends collection. We asked Lyn to spare a few minutes to tell us about what’s brilliant [...]
For May, TuneSmith Rob Wood has his ear our for soulful Anglo-American pop and a multi-talented Old Master… ALBUM OF THE MONTH Beautiful Imperfection by Asa When? The sun’s out, the car windows down Why? This is techno, but not as we know it Bukola ‘Asa’ Elemide is a Paris-based Nigerian singer who’s making a [...]
