Tag Archives: boutique

Nails & Brows, Mayfair

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I had just about given up on beauty blogging in Central and West London until I found Nails & Brows. I am always on the lookout for new places for weekend pampering and this stylish little haven ticks every box.

Specialising in nail and eyebrow treatments, this luxurious boutique is ideal for pre-party preening or just a little TLC. Squashed between the uptight hotels and overpriced bars of Berkeley Square, N&B is a breath of fresh air with a stylish white shopfront amongst the dark and oppressive mega brands.

The gorgeous owner Sherrille Riley told me the tale of N&B before I sat down to be spoiled! She emphasised the brand’s key message ‘the importance of enhancing one’s natural beauty’ and explained the healthy organic products they use and the natural techniques the therapists perform. As I leaned back and let my feet be thoroughly scrubbed, I listened to the other beauticians offer advice to their clients, an in depth consultation that is all just part of the standard service here.

The rainbow selection of Essie colours makes choosing the perfect shade rather more difficult. After testing out five contrasting colours, I chose a very pale turquoise for my fingers and a pretty pink for my toes. Chrysi was efficient and thorough, so that my feet were beach-ready despite the lack of upcoming sunny holiday! While my feet were tended, I sipped a coffee and flicked through a glossy magazine, a rare opportunity to totally indulge and relax.

Next I headed upstairs to the eyebrow emporium where wonderwoman Silvie gave me a miraculous brow makeover. I lay back on the bed and let Silvie examine my brow shape and colour. She tinted and reshaped my brows, accentuating my natural line using the Damone Roberts range. My brows looked their very best: defined, dark and healthy, and without doing anything too radical Silvie carefully created a shape that complemented my face shape and made my features more striking.

My final treatment was back downstairs at one of the stylish manicure stations. Sara chatted enthusiastically to me about N&B whilst trimming, filing and moisturising my hands and nails. The colour looked even prettier on and I admired my choice while Sara finished off the top coat and nourishing oil. There is something about manicures that makes me feel so special, and I spent the rest of the day flashing my fingers at the world. Even a week later they still looked pristine and a girl on the bus came up to me to ask where the colour was from and if my nails were fake as they looked so long!

Needless to say I left Nails & Brows a very happy customer. If only I lived nearer I would be in here every weekend having my nails polished and my brows beautified!

More information and book an appointment here: nailsandbrows.me

Urban Villa, Brentford

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I imagine the prospect of trekking all the way to Brentford after work on a Friday night would deter a lot of people from attending the Urban Villa hotel’s opening party but those that did make the effort had a brilliant time. We scoffed juicy burgers from the Meat Liquor food truck, slurped cocktails from connoisseur Thomas Aske and Soulshakers, indulged in manicures and massages and watched in amazement as cabaret acts stormed the stage, all curated by burlesque performer Miss Giddy Heights. Later in the evening DJ’s Ivan Varian and The Roustabouts continued the energetic atmosphere downstairs. After all the entertainment there was just enough time to see the rooms and facilities that this new business boutique hotel has on offer.

Urban Villa is a new, all-suite accommodation concept which offers the convenience of residential assets within a boutique hotel complex. The industrial chic appearance will attract ambitious professionals who need a comfortable and luxurious place to stay in London with great connections for city commutes. The Brentford area is booming, and at an alarming pace. Close to Chiswick, Richmond and most notably Heathrow, it is ideal for business visitors.

Despite the apparent vastness of the glass structure from the ground, inside there are just 100 suites, studios and the larger master suites. The founders were lucky to get New York architects Grzywinski + Pons on board for the project, the dynamic pair behind The Nolitan, a downtown Manhattan hotel I reviewed a few years ago. Downstairs the open plan communal lobby, has a clean, fresh feel. BOKI Coffee & Co serve delectable treats all day, and we enjoyed their flaky croissants and tailor-made juices here for breakfast. They also offer trendy tea of the moment T2 and perfectly poured Allpress Coffee.

Our studio suite was on the third floor, with plenty of space for working and playing, and a small urban garden balcony overlooking the M4. The room featured a Queen sized bed with medium soft mattress (though this is changeable to your preference), a Samsung smart TV, Ipod docking station, a small table for dining or working, and fast free wifi. We had a glistening fully-equipped kitchen as all rooms do, and I appreciated the Nespresso machine for my early morning caffeine kick. The minimalist design is contemporary and functional with a focus on good quality and optimum comfort.

The black bathroom was glossy and luxurious with a powerful rainfall shower, plenty of fluffy towels and deliciously scented Malin & Goetz products. I missed having a bathtub but those who require it can find this addition in the master suites. Those guests in need of a little relaxation can have a blissful spa treatment in the room. We experienced wonderful 30 minute massages, the therapist used soothing almond oil to calm and relieve the muscle tension, I didn’t want it to end.

Urban Villa is ahead of the trend, bringing a fresh hotel concept to an area of London which is undergoing a great transformation. Offering style-conscious accommodation with facilities that show they consider business needs as a priority, it is a brilliant option for corporate visitors who want to stay somewhere with a bit of personality. With plans to open several more urban villa branches in the coming years, I have a feeling we will be seeing a lot more from this ambitious team.

Prices start at £100 for a Studio Suite and £135 for a Master Villa. More information and booking here.

Mercer Hotel, Barcelona

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The Mercer Hotel is tucked away in the atmospheric and historic gothic quarter of Barcelona. Away from the main tourist streets, there is a luxurious sense of calm and cool inside and around the grand building. The discreet and efficient reception desk staff ensured a speedy check-in and we were encouraged to speak to the well informed concierge who kindly checked all the places we were interested in visiting.

The rooms here are stylish and minimalist, design-led and blissfully comfortable. We were upgraded to an immaculate Junior Suite, room 104 to be precise, overlooking the indoor terrace of orange trees, a blissful retreat from the hot, busy Barcelona streets with a tranquil lounge area in which to sit and read your favourite book. The bedroom is spacious and indulgent, a smart four-poster bed with the softest white sheets and techy bedside lamps that illuminate with a special hand gesture. The wooden floor is homely but chic and matches the ‘relaxed luxury’ style of the room. The bathroom was my favourite, with infinitely more light than the rest of the suite, I could fully appreciate the décor. All white and smooth with a single red rose to scent the air. A glazed rain-effect shower and deep designer bath tub are heavenly alongside the fragrant Molton Brown miniatures and complimentary bath bomb.

If you’ve exhausted the local sightseeing, the rooftop terrace bar and pool is heaven on a hot day and the restaurant downstairs serves seasonal fine food. Each of the communal spaces at Mercer has an individual character – think atmospheric lighting, fresh flower bouquets, intelligent books, intriguing artwork… there is always something new to discover and admire. I noticed when wandering along the corridors that there is even a special fragrance in the air. It seems like an odd thing to say, but the hotel smelt delicious.

We ate breakfast in the courtyard, an oasis with the blue sky above and green plants all around. The table was immaculately set with white tablecloth, garden flowers, pretty crockery, bowls of fruit and a basket of freshly baked pastries. There was plenty of more extravagant hot dishes on offer but we found the array adequate along with a cappuccino and orange juice. It was as delicious as it was dainty.

I couldn’t bear to tear myself away from the Mercer Hotel, a beautifully serene and sophisticated place in the heart of buzzing Barcelona, it is the perfect city escape.

Book a stay at The Mercer Hotel here: www.mercerhotel.com

Many thanks to the Barcelona Tourist Board for their help with this trip, more information here.