Floral print pioneer and perfumer Laura Ashley is to open a boutique hotel to showcase its wares, it revealed last week.
The brand, well known for its flowery curtains and clothes, confirmed last week that it has purchased a 49-room hotel in the British county of Hertfordshire, where it will build a branded getaway experience.
All of the bedclothes, sofas, wallpaper and curtains will be matching fabrics with the first guests expected to be welcomed next year, after an overhaul of the property.
The announcement came as the brand posted a rise in sales, particularly in furniture, where its flowery prints appear to have gone down well among cash-strapped consumers despite the continuing lure of cheaper furniture options such as Ikea.
That could explain why the brand is so keen to follow other designers into owning an establishment where fans can totally immerse themselves in the experience.
Prices are likely to be lower than the spectacularly-expensive Armani Hotel in Dubai, where furniture comes courtesy of Armani Casa and linens and fabrics are also from the Armani design team.
If you’ve ever wanted to anything and everything about Islam then this museum is the place to go. A new establishment in a converted souq on the waterfront, the ground floor galleries shows different aspects of Islamic faith such as the Five Pillars of Islam and the rituals of hajj. Other parts of floor plan show the scientific achievements in the Arab world, especially in the areas of mathematics...
The ocean front walk is a must visit for any first time tourist. A bohemian hotspot, the walkway has stalls and stands selling sunglasses, Mexican blankets, and more random goodies. You’re bound to see weight lifters, break dancers, jugglers, talking parrots and more. Website: www.venicebeach.com ...
has paintings done on leveled rock of Sassanid kings and Qajar Shahs. ...
The Flame of Liberty is a full size gold covered replica of the flame held by the Statue of Liberty in New York City. It is located near the Pont de l'Alma, where Princess Diana died in a car crash in 1997, and is considered by many an unofficial memorial to the beloved Princess. People the world over flock here to lay flowers and messages. The flame was donated to the city by the Int...