http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com Welcome to our new weblog. On this site you will find an archive of articles and information, as well as news and feedback on a broad spectrum of topics. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:30:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=4902 en hourly 1 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/design/dennis-basso-style-guru/ http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/design/dennis-basso-style-guru/#comments Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:55:11 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=433 Ever wondered who dresses the rich and famous in fur? The answer is Dennis Basso, creator of sumptuous high fashion items for celebrities and socialites the world over. Still quite new in Europe, the name Dennis Basso is especially synonymous with style, quality and opulent indulgence in the US, where he has been a leading high fashion designer for over 25 years. The fact is, few other designers enjoy such cult status with their clients, and in the case of this brand they range from actresses and socialites to royalty and business leaders.]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/design/dennis-basso-style-guru/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/design/the-idyllic-charm-of-la-virginia/ http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/design/the-idyllic-charm-of-la-virginia/#comments Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:04:59 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=389 Tucked up against a slope just a few hundred metres from Marbella’s Golden Mile and Mediterranean beaches lies La Virginia, an idyllically charming representation of a Spanish village – and one of the prettiest places you will ever see. Enveloped in greenery, this established residential urbanisation appears as though created on the canvas of a great master. Here, private little cobblestone pathways and squares are lined with beautifully styled Andalusian ‘village houses’ tastefully daubed in tones of white, blue, cream, ochre and peach. Adding to this palette of colours are vines, creepers, flowers and the rich hue of bougainvillaea. ]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/design/the-idyllic-charm-of-la-virginia/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/design/roche-bobois-french-flair/ http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/design/roche-bobois-french-flair/#comments Thu, 06 May 2010 10:02:28 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=333 A chance meeting at the Copenhagen Furniture Fair gave birth to a dynasty of sumptuously styled and crafted furniture nurtured by French flair and Russian enterprising spirit. Roche Bobois is a name that resounds within the world of fine furniture. Through its exquisitely styled ‘Les Contemporains’, ‘Les Provinciales’ and ‘Les Voyages’ ranges, the firm has built a name for taste and quality as it leads us through a lifetime’s evolution in classical, country, colonial and modern décor styles. Leading industrial designers have made their impact with the creation of Roche Bobois ranges over the years, not infrequently joined by celebrity names from the world of fashion, such as Ungaro and Kenzo, who add their particular touch to new fabrics and patterns, thus creating a brand whose evolving look focuses more on offering a way of life than just a style.]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/design/roche-bobois-french-flair/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/sports/just-the-thing/ http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/sports/just-the-thing/#comments Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:35:23 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=291 Actually, a team of young industrial designers have just created a table football that is most certainly an objet d’art. Gorgeous enough to make even an adult drool, it will do more than rekindle fond childhood memories and take centre stage wherever you decide to display it. Designed by GRO design and developed by TIM model makers in Holland, this is a toy with a difference.]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/sports/just-the-thing/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/motoring/triumph-an-old-name-with-modern-appeal/ http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/motoring/triumph-an-old-name-with-modern-appeal/#comments Tue, 23 Mar 2010 09:31:14 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=264 In the world of motorcycling Triumph is one of those names that reads like aristocracy. Like its car-manufacturing counterpart, the marque was very much at the forefront of the evolving history of motoring, building itself a legendary heritage in the process. The renaissance of this great old name is therefore every bit as important as the revival of the Bugatti brand was – all the more so because today Triumph once again makes some of the most beautiful bikes around.]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/motoring/triumph-an-old-name-with-modern-appeal/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/design/opulent-by-design/ http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/design/opulent-by-design/#comments Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:46:12 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=218 Gibraltar, a British territory at the southern tip of Spain, is not the first place you would expect to find an exclusive members club, but thanks to the enclave’s status as an offshore haven and a leading financial centre it has one of the highest concentrations of millionaires in Europe.]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/design/opulent-by-design/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/art/brilliant-designs/ http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/art/brilliant-designs/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:05:34 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=159 Many of the world’s famous brands may come from Paris, Milan and London, but whilst in many cases iconic, much of what they make is actually produced on a considerable scale. For one-off pieces designed and made by master craftsmen, smaller bespoke jewellers are making a welcome comeback. There was a time when jewellers were not part of large corporate brands but made handcrafted pieces designed uniquely for individual clients. These were the times when a master jeweller was more an artist than an artisan, often crossing over between jewellery making, art and sometimes even architecture. René Lalique is a fine example, but in actual fact many of today’s famous names still trade on reputations earned over a century ago. ]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/art/brilliant-designs/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/new-paris-interiors-angelika-taschen-ian-phillips/ http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/new-paris-interiors-angelika-taschen-ian-phillips/#comments Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:54:36 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/new-paris-interiors-angelika-taschen-ian-phillips/ Delightful book edited by Angelika Taschen and written by Ian Phillips. The first in a new series of updated Interiors books, New Paris Interiors highlights not so much the practical as the artistic approach to interior design, as displayed in the homes of architect India Mahdavi, French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld, auctioneer Simon de Pury, shoemaker Christian Louboutin and many other colourful figures that populate the creative heart of the world’s capital of chic.]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/new-paris-interiors-angelika-taschen-ian-phillips/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/seaside-living-interiors-angelika-taschen/ http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/seaside-living-interiors-angelika-taschen/#comments Fri, 23 Jan 2009 07:17:09 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/seaside-living-interiors-angelika-taschen/ Seaside living, new tome by Taschen. New Seaside Interiors celebrates homes in stunning seaside locations and the decors that go with them. Edited by Angelika Taschen, who studied art history and German literature in Heidelberg.]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/seaside-living-interiors-angelika-taschen/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/ptmd-collection-yvonne-van-opdorp/ http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/ptmd-collection-yvonne-van-opdorp/#comments Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:18:32 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/ptmd-collection-yvonne-van-opdorp/ When it comes to creating the kind of ambience you’d love to call home Yvonne van Opdorp has a knowing touch. As styling and art director of the PTMD collection, the haute couture accessories and design firm she runs with her husband Jos, Yvonne’s winning combinations of colour, texture and form set the tone for living environments that can justly be described as eye-catching. Not surprisingly, this select family business founded 15 years ago has made a name for itself far beyond its native Holland.]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/ptmd-collection-yvonne-van-opdorp/feed/ 0