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| London in Spring |
| Designer Jane Churchill takes guests on a whirlwind junket through shops and sights not to miss in her town |
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Starzewski
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Appley Hoare Antiques
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by Amy Laughinghouse
Photos by Andreas von Einsiedel
After the short, dark days of winter, London experiences a riotous rebirth in spring. With the budding of the first cherry blossoms, the city’s population seems to double. Suddenly, streets are crowded with baby strollers, battalions of sunseekers appear on grassy park slopes, and businessmen enjoy long picnic lunches in St. James’s Park. Tulips push through the fertile soil, eventually bowing their heads in deference to the profusion of roses that border meandering park paths in June.
It’s the ideal time to visit this bustling city, and designer Jane Churchill knows how to play hostess, though guests may need a little prodding to leave the comfortable surroundings of her home in the Belgravia neighborhood. A feisty, outspoken woman with a quick stride and an even quicker wit, she’ll lead friends from across the pond on a fast and furious tour of her “patch” of London. Her ideal three-day weekend begins on Friday near Chelsea. After a quick stop at La Bottega on Lower Sloane Street for what Churchill reckons is “the best cappuccino in London,” she’ll make the rounds along Pimlico Road, where she has her design studio. The street is chockablock with art and antiques dealers and furnituremakers. But in addition to shops such as Linley and John Hobbs, the thoroughfare also features one of her favorite clothing designers, Tomasz Starzewski, and Daylesford Organic The Garden, a florist with minimalist, sculptural creations that qualify as artworks unto themselves. After pausing for lunch in the café of the Daylesford Organic store down the street, it’s off to Soho for a stroll around Carnaby Street. “If you’re coming from abroad, why walk down Bond Street, where you’re going to see 5,000 shops that you have on Madison Avenue?” she asks. “This is so much more English, because there are little quirky shops selling stuff you don’t need, but you probably can’t resist.”
| ART AND ANTIQUES |
Appley Hoare Antiques
Specializing in Country French furniture and accessories, from well-worn trestle tables and antique urns to 18th-century root wood bowling balls. 22 Pimlico Rd., 011-44-207-730-7070, www.appleyhoare.com. Christopher Butterworth
“They have everything,” says Churchill, who looks here for lamps, chandeliers, and mirrors. “It’s all kind of piled high and disorganized, and it’s rather nice that there is a shop with that old sort of feel.” 71 Pimlico Rd., 011-44-207-823-4554, www.christopherbutterworth.com. Ciancimino
A mixture of antique and contemporary furniture. 85 Pimlico Rd., 011-44-207-730-9950, www.ciancimino.com. John Hobbs Fine Antiques
Fine art and furniture. 107-A Pimlico Rd., 011-44-207-730-8369, www.johnhobbs.co.uk. Linley
Bespoke furniture, ready-for-purchase furnishings, accessories, and lighting. 60 Pimlico Rd., 011-44-207-730-7300. Other
locations: www.davidlinley.com. Marston & Langinger
Conservatory furniture and other home furnishings. 192 Ebury St., 011-44-845-270-6688, www.marston-and-langinger.com. Ramsay
A mixture of new and modern prints and pictures, as well as oil paintings.
69 Pimlico Rd., 011-44-207-730-6776. Soane
Bespoke furniture, chairs, and lamps. 50 Pimlico Rd., 011-44-207-730-6400, www.soane.co.uk. Westenholz Antiques, Ltd.
Specializing in antique British furniture and lighting. 76—78 Pimlico Rd., 011-44-207-824-8090, www.westenholz.co.uk. |
| FLORIST |
Daylesford Organic The Garden
Lovely floral arrangements. 30 Pimlico Rd., 011-44-207-730-2943, www.daylesfordorganic.com. |
| CLOTHING |
Starzewski
Tomasz Starzewski, who counted the late Princess Diana among his clientele, is known for his horizontal-pleated dress. 97 Pimlico Rd., 011-44-207-730-5559. Zara (UK), Ltd.
“Zara’s clothes are quite classical, but they’re not frumpy,” Churchill says. “The clothes fit well, they’re nice material, they have great buttons, and they’re cheap. It’s the only shop I go into where I don’t look at the prices.” 79—81 Brompton Rd., 011-44-207-590-6960. Other locations: www.zara.com. |
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