You don't ring, you don't write.....

I'm rather embarrassed when looking at the blog and seeing that I have infact moved the shop three times since I last updated.  And I have now, sadly, closed all the retail outlets. But never say never and who's to say that when we are all feeling a little bit more flush again, I won't open another. But in the meantime, I  will do the odd "Christmas in July" event or even Easter in October - with daffodil bulbs and baby bunnies etc - only joking but seriously, Brompton Cross will carry on having the odd party event - if for no other reason than to open a bottle of bubbly with old friends: so if you would like notifying when they are going to happen, email me to let me know.

I also have quite a lot of stock from the shop which I am happy to part company with ..... and no doubt will not be able to resist buying more when I spot beautiful things. And at some point, I will get my act together and do a website which you can buy from. But that's not going to happen quite yet, so if there is anything you remember from the shop and want to know if there are any left, or if you would like me to order some Stelton or Iittala products (or others if the order is big enough for me to bring in), email me on Bromptoncrossza@gmail.com.  Or if you simply need a present, and need some inspiration ..... I'm always happy to help.

dressed by style: Brompton Cross

dressed by style: Brompton Cross: "There’s a new shop on my local block! But not any kind of shop. This one is filled with wit, humour and loads of beautifully designed, conte..."

Clocky ® has landed

All the way from the US of A.

Clocky is the patented alarm clock out of MIT that runs away and hides to get you out of bed. Clocky gives you one chance to get up. But if you snooze, Clocky will jump off of your nightstand and wheel around your room looking for a place to hide, and beeping all the while. You'll have to get out of bed to silence his alarm. Clocky is kind of like a misbehaving pet, only he will get up at the right time. Millions of people (40% of those that use an alarm clock) hit the snooze button over and over, wake up late, and then rush to get to work and school on time. With Clocky, you will never oversleep again. Batteries not included.





Available in aqua, almond and chocolate brown and available exclusively from Brompton Cross. The Courtyard at the Hudson, 30 Hudson Street, De Waterkant, Cape Town 8001. 021 425 9447

If it's good enough for Jerry...

We spotted this in last month's Hello magazine... proof that Jan Constantine's cushions really do grace the homes of the rich and famous. And with pure serendipity, my new shipment has just arrived with a host of new cushions, uber sexy make-up bags and handbags.

Our Ship's Come In

Well the one carrying our gorgeous new stock from Stelton in Denmark anyway.

We are really excited to announce that we are getting several pieces from Arne Jacobsen's iconic Cylinda Line including the coffee pot
.
The 1960s was the golden age of Danish design, and one of the leading figures was the architect Arne Jacobsen. In 1932, Arne Jacobsen began collaboration with Fritz Hansens Eft. A/S, and over a period of years designed a series of chairs which are now recognised as milestones in the development of modern furniture. They include “The Ant” (1951), “The Egg” (1957), and “The Swann”(1957). But he was also an innovator in other design fields, such as the tableware series “Cylinda-line” in stainless steel.

Cylinda-Line was put on the market in 1967, and immediately attracted considerable attention for its serene, functionalist design. The range got off to a flying start when it was awarded the ID prize, founded that same year by the Danish Design Council. Several other prizes followed, including the International Design Award of the American Institute of Interior Designers in 1968. Parts of the range were given the highest sign of recognition when they were included in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Danish Museum of Decorative Art in Copenhagen.



For lovers of coffee, the ultimate accessory is also arriving. The portable espresso machine. Here is what Stelton say about it:

”If you want to own an espresso machine that saves space in the kitchen and can be taken wherever you go - then you definitely need
the new Simply espresso from Stelton.
In cooperation with a French technology company Stelton has developed an entirely new technology for this espresso machine. The
result is the smallest, electric, battery-powered espresso machine in the world which of course has the required pressure of 16 bar
(ATW) exactly the same capacity as the larger and far more expensive machines.
Simply espresso is a smart device, easy to find space for in a kitchen, summer house or even a boat. This is a simple way of making
espresso without compromising the good taste.”

Come into the shop and have a look at it - and a cup of coffee - I'm keeping one just for me. And while you are at it, you won't be able to miss the incredible Stelton's ship's lanterns.

Let's start at the very beginning

Brompton Cross opened in The Courtyard at The Hudson, in de Waterkant in Cape Town in April 2009 (upstairs next to Origin's Coffee Shop). As it has taken me 6 months to get a blog going, I'm going to take step back to the beginning. This is the press release I sent out at the time which gives an idea of what we are about.


“It’s a filthy, rotten world but it has some smashing things in it”
Brompton Cross; a new, fun, design-led home ware and gift shop has opened in the Hudson Courtyard in De Waterkant, Cape Town (next door to Origins upstairs).

It carries a colourful range of beautifully designed, contemporary items for the home from international design houses such as Iittala and Stelton. Many of the brands are making their appearance for the first time in South Africa.

Brompton Cross’s ethos is to stock a mix of the best contemporary global design married with a serious dollop of wit, offering exclusivity where possible. It takes its inspiration from shops in London, where great design is available for every corner of the home, without taking itself too seriously.

The name Brompton Cross comes from an area of London famous for its design shops. It is a small area in SW3 where Kensington meets Chelsea and is home to, amongst many others, The Conran Shop and Bibendum, as well as Divertimenti, one of the best kitchen-ware shops in London, and the flagship Joseph store.