Friday, January 22, 2010

The Conran Shop, London, England



Do you know about the Conran Shop?


It is a London institution.  And, I don't think many people would argue if I said that Europeans have for many years made pilgrimages to this design Mecca just down the road from Harrods and the Victoria and Albert Museum.


You don't have enough time and I don't have enough space to go over ALL the many retail establishments


restaurants, hotels, publications, design projects Sir Terence Conran


has conceived, spearheaded, presided over.


If names like habitat, Bluebird, Bibendum, Quaglino's, Mezzo, Pont de la Tour, Conran's, Coq d'Argent, Great Eastern Hotel, Alcazar, ring a bell, then you have some idea.  And I have not approached naming them all.  In fact those are all the old ones - who can keep up?  Find the new ones for me and REPORT BACK!


His impact on international design and English living and dining standards is unquantifiable.  The universe might be expanding but it better hurry up and make room cause Sir Terence just keeps coming up with great stuff.



I can't imagine what the world will be like when he is no more.  So Sir Terence, may you live many many more happy and healthy years.  Finding reasons for us to believe and return again and again to pray at the altar of your genius.

If you don't know already, there are three Conran Shops in London, one in Paris, one in NYC, one in Tokyo, and maybe another Japanese city.  Check out the one near you!

3 comments:

  1. Ah yes, I know their Paris store. Such beautiful items!

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  2. thanks for the tour. isn´t amazing that everything he touches is the next big thing?... besos!

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  3. Ladies - glad you know of what I speak. Sir Terence has been doing this for such a long time - through and despite many iterations of stately home style in the UK. I have to give his sister Priscilla ALOT of credit too - over the years for contributing to the Conran "signature". She was the Conran Shop's buyer for many years and was probably responsible for some of their v. inspired displays. She has her own shop nearby now: Few and Far.

    Mary-Laure - you are another one of those "citizens of the world". Love your blog, love your name. I have another friend here called Marie-Laure but she dropped the Laure when she was growing up in NY and trying to blend in! Such a shame!

    Nice to "see" you both!

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