FEB EDITION 2018

ISSUE 028 FEB 2018
Ibidunni Ighodalo's
SHADES OF LOVE

Content
Editorial
Publisher/Managing Editor
Funke Osae-Brown
Staff Writers
Lara Oladunni
Beatrice Isola
Awero Johnson
Adedoyin Amole
Creative Director
Brian Uche
Web Design
Dele Odufuye, Tsaboin
Advisory Board
Mrs. Abimbola Wright
Mr. Femi Adefowope
Mrs. Mercy Omoyeni
Mr. Ogbeni-Tope Awe
Mr. Julian Osula
Mrs. Bola Balogun
Mrs. Nkiru Olumide-Ojo
Dr. Phil Osagie
Mrs. Florence Olumodimu
Cover Credit
Ibidunni Ighodalo
6
8 For
10
12
14
16
22
TRAVEL
Nature’s
Glow
STYLE
Floral Scents
The Season
HOMES
Leading
Lights
AUTO
A Jewel On
The Road
ECLECTIBLES
Super Cool For
Valentine’s Day
HOMES
Branch
Furnitures
FEATURES
Room With
A View
4
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THE LUXURY REPORTER
Editor’s Note
Love Is In The Air
It is February. Love is in the air again. It is
that time of the month when love birds are
eager to share memorable moments
together. And so, in this edition, we
recommend Rwandan Bisate resort as a
suitable getaway for lovebirds. It is a place where
nature radiates in its full strength and lovers can
get wrapped in its embrace for Valentine.
e BMW X3 is indeed a great car to drive and a
cute sporty jewel on the road. It will be a nice gi
to get for your Val.
On the Style page there is our pick of Four
Valentine Day Floral Scents. It is a way to show
your loved ones you care with the amboyance
and colour of tropical blossoms like frangipani,
tuberose and jasmine. So, whatever you do for
Valentine's Day don't forget to buy something
special for your Val. A peep into e Eclectible
pages could help. Happy Valentine's Day!
- FOB
Follow me on:
Instagram: funke_osae-brown
Twitter: @funkeadetutu
Facebook/LinkedIn: Funke Osae-Brown
www.luxuryreporter.ng 5

Nature’s
Glow
Rwandan Bisate resort is truly a place
where nature radiates in its full strength
says ADEDOYIN JOHNSON
THE LUXURY REPORTER
bushbuck can be seen.
A guided community walk will expose you to the
culture of the community surrounding Bisate, a
re ection cultural heritage of rural Rwanda. It will
enable you to interact with indigenes whether in the
elds, at their homes or in the local markets. You will
also experience the cultural Intore dance.
Guests can walk to the vegetable garden where
members of the local cooperative cultivate and sell
vegetables to the lodge. Your guide will continue with
you along the path to the Bisate community where you
will meet Beatrice who will tell you a bit about her way
of life and introduce you to her family.
Travel
Nature and birding walks are interesting activities to
engage in as it allows guests to explore Bisate's nature
and birds in the forest to learn more about the bird and
wildlife in the area. You may also enjoy a guided walk to
the local pyrethrum elds and end the day at sunset
with spectacular views of Karisimbi, Bisoke and
Mikeno volcanoes from the viewing deck at Bisate
Lodge. ere is a self-guided trail on the property for
those who wish to explore on their own.
You can end the day with Rwandan coffee, tea or
wine tastings. Rwanda is well known for its coffee and
tea; at Bisate you can learn a little more the special
Rwandan coffee and tea through the resident barista.
Nature’s Glow
Awalk into the famous Bisate Lodge exposes
one to the world of nest African luxury
hospit a lit y. Situ ate d in t he natural
amphitheatre of an eroded volcanic cone, the
lodge offers a breathtaking view of Rwanda.
e word 'bisate' which means pieces in Kinyarwanda,
one of the native languages, describes how the cone
was once whole but worn away by natural erosion.
e area around Bisate lodge has dramatic views of
the peaks of the volcanoes Bisoke, Karisimbi and
Mikeno rearing up through the Afro-alpine forests of
nearby Volcanoes National Park. It is a lodge where
nature radiates in its full strength.
Bisate is within a driving distance of Park
Headquarters, from where gorilla treks depart daily.
e trek enables guests to have a holistic view of
mountain gorillas who are commonplace in the park.
Aside from the area's iconic mountain gorillas, other
mammals that call Volcanoes National Park home
include the golden monkey, side-striped jackal, blackfronted
duiker, buffalo, elephant, tree hyrax and
bushbuck. A variety of squirrel and genet species are
also to be found here. Of the 178-bird species in the
area, at least 13 are endemic to the Virunga area such as
Archer's robin chat, mountain black boubou, strange
weaver, Rwenzori batis, mountain masked apalis and
Rwenzori (collared) apalis.
Bisate offers exclusive accommodation and services
that tell of the only sustainable luxury offerings in the
area. With six sumptuous en-suite rooms that offers
maximum comfort, warmth and views, Bisate gives
bespoke service tailor-made to meet the needs of
individual guest.
ere are so many things to do at Bisate Lodge. You
6
www.luxuryreporter.ng
can go on Gorilla Trek which takes place from
Volcanoes National Park headquarters, where guests
are allocated one of the twelve habituated gorilla
groups to visit for an hour. Aer a brie ng by park
rangers, the time of the trek varies depending which
gorilla group is being visited, from 45 minutes to a few
hours. Trekking is at a high altitude, but is well worth it;
the time spent with gorillas could be truly life changing
as the other side of Gorillas are seen in their natural
habitat.
e golden monkey trek is a must-have experience. It
begins at Volcanoes National Park headquarters. e
beautifully-coloured monkeys are endemic to the area
and lives in groups of up to 30 individuals in the
bamboo forest, its preferred source of food.
You can also go on a guided hike in Volcanoes
National Park. At 3 711 metres Mount Bisoke volcano
is located on the border of the DRC and Rwanda. e
guided hike to the summit is strenuous and requires a
full day to complete. However, once at the top it is
extremely beautiful and really worth the effort as you
are rewarded with sweeping views of the rainforest and
the amazing crater lake.
A visit to Dian Fossey's grave and Research Centre
gives an interesting perspective to the life and times of
Rwanda's most celebrated researcher. Late Dian Fossey
established the Karisoke Research Centre in 1967 in
the saddle of Bisoke and Karisimbi volcanoes at an
elevation of some 3 000 metres. e trail leading to her
remote rainforest camp and grave, which is set
alongside the graves of her beloved gorillas, and the
remains of the research centre is a spectacular yet
challenging hike up steep slopes where orchids, birdlife
and even occasional black-fronted duiker and

Style
THE LUXURY REPORTER
Floral Scents
For The Season
Show your loved ones you care with the flamboyance
and colour of tropical blossoms like frangipani,
tuberose and jasmine says AWERO AMOLE
t. Valentine's Day comes with very interesting
Sopportunity to share love and remind people
dear to your heart how important they are.
Colours play important roles in all these and
some of this season's scents come in splashes of
colour Awalk that make into the the celebration famous special. Bisate Lodge exposes
For example, one to the white world oral of perfumes nest African create luxury vivid
ambience. hospit White a lit owers y. Situ bring ateto d mind t he bridal natural veils,
love, the amphitheatre prim and pastel of an eroded about volcanic scent of cone, tropical the
blossoms lodge like tiaré, offers frangipani, a breathtaking ylang-ylang, view of Rwanda. tuberose
or e jasmine. word 'bisate' ey which have a means great aroma pieces evocative in Kinyarwanda, of warm
skin, one of coconut the native milk languages, and petals sticky describes with how nectar. the cone
was For once most whole perfumers, but worn white away by owers natural smell erosion. purple and
pink, e rich area and around saturated, Bisate lodge and it's has true dramatic that wearing views of a
white the peaks oral of perfume the volcanoes makes one Bisoke, feel brighter. Karisimbi Tropical and
Mikeno orals cut rearing across up through many botanical the Afro-alpine families forests and of
fragrance nearby Volcanoes types, however, National one Park. characteristic It a lodge that where these
nature owers radiates do have in its in full common strength. is their heady and
amboyant Bisate is aroma. within a driving distance of Park
Headquarters, Annick Goutal from Un where Matin gorilla d'Orage treks is a depart good daily. oral
perfume e trek enables for Valentine's guests to Day. have It a is holistic a sensual view and of
voluptuous mountain gorillas perfume who are that commonplace evokes the in scent the park. of a
gardenia. Aside from An the olfactory area's iconic creation mountain that combines gorillas, other
sensuality mammals of that white call owers, Volcanoes the sweetness National of Park vanilla home and
include the golden monkey, side-striped jackal, blackfronted
duiker, buffalo, elephant, tree hyrax and
bushbuck. A variety of squirrel and genet species are
also to be found here. Of the 178-bird species in the
area, at least 13 are endemic to the Virunga area such as
Archer's robin chat, mountain black boubou, strange
weaver, Rwenzori batis, mountain masked apalis and
Rwenzori (collared) apalis.
Bisate offers exclusive accommodation and services
that tell of the only sustainable luxury offerings in the
area. With six sumptuous en-suite rooms that offers
maximum comfort, warmth and views, Bisate gives
bespoke service tailor-made to meet the needs of
individual guest.
ere are so many things to do at Bisate Lodge. You
bewitching notes of tuberose.
Also, Parfums de Nicolaï Juste un Rêve opens with
notes of coconut and apricot. e heart is jasmine
blossom soaked in apricot nectar. It's a more daring,
sweeter fragrance than Un Matin d'Orage, with a cool
touch can go of iris on balancing Gorilla Trek out the which creamy takes oral place notes. from True
to Volcanoes its name, National Juste un Rêve Park is headquarters, wistful perfect where for tropical guests
fantasy are allocated into a cool one breezy of the Valentine twelve night. habituated gorilla
groups Tom Ford's to visit luxurious for an hour. and sensual Aer a brie fragrance, ng by Black park
Orchid rangers, is the an time alluring of the portion trek varies of black depending orchids, which and
spice, gorilla presented group is being the visited, brand's from modern 45 minutes and timeless to a few
tradition. hours. Trekking Bottled is at in a high uted, altitude, black-glass, but is black well worth orchid it;
makes the time an spent unforgettable with gorillas statement could be of truly iconic life style changing and
worldly as the other glamour. side It of is Gorillas a fusion are of fresh seen green in their leaves natural and
cucumber habitat. peel in melted chocolate, incense, truffle
and e tropical golden monkey owers. It trek is seductive is a must-have scent experience. for Valentine It
with begins a lingering at Volcanoes nish National that clings Park to skin headquarters. like wet silk. e
beautifully-coloured For the eccentric and monkeys amboyant, are endemic Vero Profumo's to the area
Rubj and lives is must-have in groups for Val. of up Designed to 30 individuals by indie perfumer in the
Vero bamboo Kern, forest, Rubj its smells preferred of source Indian of nights, food. indecently
lush You owers, can also ripe go strawberries on a guided and hike salty in Volcanoes skin. e
fragrance National Park. comes At 3 in 711 three metres concentrations, Mount Bisoke volcano eau de
parfum, is located extrait on the de border parfum of and the voile DRC d'extrait. and Rwanda. All three e
are guided so varied hike to that the they summit could is be strenuous different perfumes. and requires a
full day to complete. However, once at the top it is
extremely beautiful and really worth the effort as you
are rewarded with sweeping views of the rainforest and
the amazing crater lake.
A visit to Dian Fossey's grave and Research Centre
gives an interesting perspective to the life and times of
Rwanda's most celebrated researcher. Late Dian Fossey
established the Karisoke Research Centre in 1967 in
the saddle of Bisoke and Karisimbi volcanoes at an
elevation of some 3 000 metres. e trail leading to her
remote rainforest camp and grave, which is set
alongside the graves of her beloved gorillas, and the
remains of the research centre is a spectacular yet
challenging hike up steep slopes where orchids, birdlife
and even occasional black-fronted duiker and
8
www.luxuryreporter.ng

Meet Angelo Tantillo,
The Tea Tailor
At Harrods
ADEDOYIN AMOLE
Aslight, dapper Italian with an impeccably
trimmed moustache like an Arabian monk,
Angelo Tantillo stands behind a huge desk
surrounded by well arranged tins of tea.
He is the tea tailor at Harrods with speciality in
blending truly bespoke tea with a completely
individual brew.
Harrods, initially opened in 1834 as a tea merchant
with new Roastery and Bake Hall, where personalised
high-end teas are brewed.
For a start, Tantillo will ask customers about their
special tastes and the proceed to create a tea to match
their taste. A personalised tin of tea costs N14, 457.49
(£30).
en, he would get his clients to sniff different tea
leaves to get the one that most suit their palates. From
dried rose petals as a base to cardamom, red pepper
and star anise, mixing all together in a large metal
bowl.
He is truly a skilful tea blender. He would later add an
embellishment here and there until there is a mutual
satisfaction between the client and him. e nal
blend, a beautiful rose pink with green cardamom and
red pepper, will be placed in a stylish Harrods Tea
Tailor tin. Tantillo would keep a record of the personal
blend in his little black book of tea recipes.
“Angelo is an expert in layering avours and can
guide you on a journey to blend a tea that you would
never have imagined,” says Alex Dower, director of
food and restaurants at Harrods told How To Spend It
in a report. “He has mixed thousands of teas during his
career.”
When next you are in London, if you are a tea lover,
just visit Harrods for that personalise tea blend.
www.luxuryreporter.ng 9

Leading Light
In this era, lamp designers are pushing boundaries with their newest pieces. Recent designs are avantgarde
and edgy; they are often inspiring and thrilling, making them sought-after pieces, reports LARA
OLADUNNI.
Tomiwa Phillips has just acquired an unusual
bedside lamp. A week ago, he had been in
search of a rare bedside lamp to accentuate the
minimalist design of his bedroom. He got a
Luku Home Wave Ikat lampshade. e lamp,
designed by Copper and Silk, is a bold lampshade
handmade with satin- nished cotton fabric with a
pattern by textile artist and designer, Ptolemy Mann.
In this era, lamp designers are pushing boundaries
with their newest pieces. Lamp designs are avant-garde
and edgy, they are oen inspiring and thrilling to
behold. Most of them are a fusion of modern and
classical designs that have become collectors' items.
Biodun Adepegba, an interior decorator, says lamp
manufacturers have come to understand the shi in
taste of consumers for rare extravagance piece, hence
they are producing lamps tailored to meet these
demands.
According to her, most new designs are in uenced
by 19th and 20th Centuries English, French and
American lights.
“Some of the pieces we stock are made by Charles
Edwards,” she says. “He is famous for lanterns. His
pieces have graced halls of presidential villas, houses of
rich men the world over. His designs are for people
who crave for lamps or lanterns with classical air made
nely for people of class.”
Truly, like Charles Edwards's pieces, newest designs
are right for people who desire elegant lighting in their
homes. ey add that unique experience to the entire
beauty of hotels, palaces, houses, as they come in every
shape, size, mood and with many a different cultural
reference like Moorish, Gothic, Parisian, Mid-century
Modern, and even plain, old-fashioned English. ere
are designs to hang in halls, outside on gateposts or
THE LUXURY REPORTER
walls, and inside on brackets.
In addition, latest designs of bedside lamps are
equally sought-aer. ere are also interesting designs
of hanging lights and chandeliers, desk and standard
lamps. Manufacturers are customising designs in their
collections speci cally to suit a client's taste. Deigns
can either be scaled up or down, re-colour or rework in
other ways from the original design. For instance, Sé
Trophy lamp by Nika Zupanc, in gloss ceramic, is a
collector's item any day.
“If there is a design a client loves and wants to
replicate, we can get our partners abroad to do that,”
says Obioma Chibuzor, a lamp dealer, and “if you have
in mind something that does not yet exist, we can help
you bring it to life or achieve it.”
Furthermore, there are lamps designed as an abovethe-dining-table
light that enables home owners walk
around the table without knocking down the light. It
also allows them move furniture in the home around
without fear of damaging it. With various exquisite
designs, today the lamp has become synonymous with
good taste and a stylish, modern interior. For the rst
time since its creation, the classic design has been
twisted. e latest update involves incorporating an
LED light xture hidden behind a diffuser, as well as a
dimmer, reducing power consumption to 18 watts.
Italian brand, Flos, has a reputation for having an
iconic lamp for every occasion. e designs have
leveraged its 1960s and 1970s creative heritage to fuel
its amazing forward momentum. e Arco lamp
usually comes with powerful illumination.
e marble-based “pendant” oor lamp with the
arched metal arm designed by Achille and Pier
Giacomo Castiglioni in 1962 for Flos, is perhaps the
most recognisable lamp in the world. Flos is known
globally for its series of timeless designs from the 1960s
and 1970s. Today, Flos is in pursuance of new
technological challenges with a fervour one can easily
describe as wild.
In addition, 1960s designs are now meeting modern
technology. Other interesting designs are built around
impressive technological innovations. For instance,
Italian Antonio Citterio's new Kelvin LED oor lamp
has a button, which when held for an extra second, the
sensors kick in to allow the LED to read and
compensate for the level of atmospheric light around it.
And Starck's brand-new Light Photon, a glossy OLED
(organic LED) limited-edition table lamp of 500 is the
largest OLED lamp in the world and completely
unfeasible to create in signi cant numbers. ey are
expensive to make, as lamp making is moving from
electricity to electronics.
erefore, lamp designs are more about doing the
unusual, crazy things. “e world over, especially in
Homes
Italy, lamp designers, like shoes or bags designers, do
very crazy pieces that end up being regarded as
beautiful products. It is about being a crazy and being a
visionary,” says Adepegba.
Adepegba further explains that many Italian design
companies are now talking of green innovations when
it comes to lamp designs. “Designers are now replacing
plastic components in their oeuvre, since the
beginning of the year, with eco alternative materials.
For instance, this Flos' all-time bestseller, an allpolycarbonate
table lamp by Philippe Starck called
Miss Sissi – a new eco-plastic polymer created from the
byproducts of the sugar-beet and cane industry - will
replace the current oil-based plastic. Italian designers
do not compromise either on quality or conceptually.”
e n e w b i o p l a s t i c , k n o w n a s a P H A
(polyhydroxyalkanoate), is made from a sweetsmelling
mass that can be manipulated into a material
just like polycarbonate. Being a byproduct, it has
reportedly zero impact upon the food cycle, requires
no organic solvents and is fully biodegradable in water
aer a number of hours. ere is still work to be done
on re ning the material, plus the setting up of factories
and production in Italy to allow for a serious amount of
consumer production. ey have also yet to establish
exactly how to add colour with the longevity needed
for a lamp that is designed to last many years, but the
entire project is revolutionary, and potentially
revolution-starting.
Be that as it may, so long as consumers of luxury
pieces are always incapable of stopping themselves
from falling in love with statement pieces lamps
inclusive, designers will never stop rede ning their
cras.
www.luxuryreporter.ng 11

Auto
A Jewel On The Road
The all new BMW X3 is a dynamic car and a pretty
jewel to own says FUNKE OSAE-BROWN
ur plane touched down at the O.R Tambo
OInternational airport for what could by called an
experience of a life time. It was half past four in
the morning, the movement of our feet disrupts
the quietness of the airport. e immigration
officers were at alert, their voices stronger and louder
than the sound of our tired feet ruffling the tiled oor.
Aer getting my passport stamped, I met Stella of
BMW SA who was on the same ight with me
returning home to South Africa aer days of meeting
with their Nigerian partner, Coscharis Motors. Stella
and I walked through the O.R Tambo airport to join
the elevator which took us to the upper oor where our
hotel is located. We spent four hours at the hotel before
we boarded a 11.15am ight to George.
An hour and a half later, we arrived in George, a city
in the Western Cape province situated halfway
between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth on the Garden
route. More than four BMW X5 cars were waiting to
receive us. We hopped into one of them and our
journey to the Redberry Farm began. I took in the
beautiful landscape as we drove on.
e Redberry farm was all shades of beauty. It is a
commercial strawberry grower and popular family
entertainment venue for residents of the city and
visitors like us. By the entrance of the café is a sign post
“You cannot make everyone happy, You're not a tub of
ice cream.” Stella and I laughed at this. Some other
journalists from Cote D'Ivoire, Cameroon and Ghana
were in our group. We moved into the large hall,
registered and waited for the test drive of the X3 to
commence.
Outside the little hall, was Edward Makwana, group
product communication manager, BMW, South
Africa. He was deep in a chat with another journalist. I
had some servings of the famous redberry smoothie
with pizza and cake. Just as I was gulping the last drop
of the smoothie, Edward, walked in to welcome us and
intimate us with the driving route from Redberry farm,
George to Conrad Pezula hotel, Kysna where the
unveiling would be done later that evening.
Benjamin, a journalist from e Guardian
newspaper Nigeria was my drive partner. I chose to
make the rst go at the car. e map for our route has
been programmed into each car. ere was a voice
prompter that told us which turn to take along the way.
It was a three-hour drive from George to Kysna. It
afforded me the opportunity to experience the car and
enjoy the scenic beauty of the country side. We drove
through farms, private properties, mountains, hills
viewing the mountainous landscape juxtaposed
against the blue skyline.
e BMW X3 is indeed a great car to drive and a cute
sporty jewel on the road. It is agile on the road. Earlier
we were told by Edward that the BMW X3 was the car
that launched the mid-size SAV (Sports Activity
Vehicle) segment in 2003. Since then, BMW has
recorded more than 1.5 million new registrations of
the X3 across the two model generations so far.
With the 2018 model of the BMW X3, the brand is
surely set to write the next chapter in its success story
with an even more striking, dynamic design language,
powerful yet also efficient drive systems and luxurious
appointments. e X3 comes in different variants of
BMW X3 M40i, BMW X3 xDrive30i, BMW X3
xDrive20i, BMW X3 sDrive20i, BMW X3 xDrive30d,
and BMW X3 xDrive20d.
e new BMW X3 uplis the already cheek dynamic
design of its predecessor to new, even more eyecatching
terrain. e third generation of the
pioneering premium mid-size Sports Activity Vehicle
(SAV) treads a familiar BMW X family path in
combining rugged off-road looks with sporting
presence.
e car's exterior looks largely unchanged. However,
its ve-centimetre-longer wheelbase, long bonnet and
extremely short front overhang now comes with more
nely balanced proportions. ere now an emphasis
on the perfect 50:50 distribution of the weight between
the front and rear axle giving it an edge over its
predecessor.
What I also found interesting about the car is the
front end. e chunky three-dimensional kidney grille
treatment and foglamps features a hexagonal design
for the rst time on a BMW X model. e light clusters
at the rear have three-dimensional look in optional
full-LED guise that give them that substantial visual
impact.
e xLine model which I drove has a remarkable
visual character. e radiator grille and other exterior
details in Aluminium satinated, light-alloy wheels,
emphasise the robustness of the Sports Activity
Vehicle. e BMW X3 is now also available in Luxury
Line trim, whose chrome radiator grille bars, two-tone
underbody protection and classically designed lightalloy
wheels shine an even brighter spotlight on the
elegance of the exterior design.
Driving through rough terrains at Klipdrif, I put to
test some of the dynamic handling qualities of the new
BMW X3.
e chassis and the xDrive intelligent all-wheeldrive
system, which made its debut in 2003 when the
rst generation of the BMW X3 was launched, comes
in handy to for me to have a good grip on slippery
gravel lled road. Likewise, the standard Driving
Experience Control switch enabled me choose
between the various con gurations – Eco Pro,
C omfor t, Sp or t And Sp or t+ mo des. ese
con gurations make the vehicle more dynamic, more
comfortable or more efficient to drive.
Truly, the new car has nice off-road skills. e high
ground clearance of 204 millimetres helps to ensure
unhindered progress, not only when travelling along
rutted gravel or sand tracks, over churned-up ground
or on city roads with high speed bumps. e BMW X3
will be a darling of Nigerian roads.
BMW Personal CoPilot makes the car an interesting
toy to have. It is a comprehensive line-up of driver
assistance systems. e driver assistance and (semi-
)automated driving, comes with the latest generation
of Active Cruise Control (ACC), which makes braking
the car to a halt in stop-and-go traffic and
automatically pulling away again possible.
An interface with the smartphone is possible. You
can have access to the contents on your phone by using
the BMW Connected. With the help of the Open
Mobility Cloud platform, the digital services connect
to the BMW X3 via devices such as smartphones or
smartwatches, resulting in seamless connectivity.
e interior of the new BMW X3 is truly comfortable
and princely. e cockpit layout is superb making the
interior really inviting. e hexagonal forms and
precise, bevelled edges also play a central role in the
interior. e interior displays exceptional material
quality and t and nish, and impresses functionalitywise.
e X3 will be available in the Nigerian market rst
quarter 2018.
www.luxuryreporter.ng 13

Dolce & Gabbana
Bracelet
is statement bracelet is made
in Italy from wood,
rhinestones and snakeskin.
Make her feel special with this
bracelet with an African touch.
Available at yoox.com
Buffalo
Satchel Bag
is Buffalo Satchel bag comes
in beige and it is an ideal gi
for that special one this
Valentine's Day.
Available at Regalo African
Luxury Store Centro Mall,
LuxDeco
Match Striker
is made-to-order match
striker is craed from ceramic
and sterling silver. It is
available in two sizes.
Available at: luxdeco.com
Eclectibles
Super Cool
For Valentine's Day
Make your Val truly special with these great gift ideas
complied by ADEDOYIN JOHNSON
Dior Rose des
Vents necklace
In 18ct yellow and white gold,
with diamonds, mother-ofpearl,
lapis lazuli, malachite,
turquoise, onyx, tiger's eye,
cornelian and opal, Dior Rose
des Vents creates an irresistible
neck piece for the season.
Emilio Pucci
Cosmetic Case
She will surely need a great bag
for her cosmetics. Made in
Italy, this case features a zipper
and a handle for easy
portability. Available at
modaoperandi.com
Alice Made This Cufflinks
ese lovely cufflinks craed in an
aerospace-parts factory are lovely
gi for your loved one. ey are
made using specialised industrialgrade
instruments and given a
barrelled nish with pebbles
sourced from the Suffolk
coast. Available at:
mrporter.com
Dries van Noten Clutch
With his clutch bag made of
leather and velvet, Dries van Noten
marries marquetry with '70s
glamour. A contemporary classic,
the bag has extra zing through the
colour combination – moody
midnight blue leather against rich
golden velvet.
Boucheron Reflet
Gold Watch
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THE LUXURY REPORTER
Homes
Branch
Furniture
In recent times, furniture designers are reuniting with
nature's willful verve by turning to trees for inspiration,
while collectors are enticed by the prospect of bringing
the forest indoors, reports ADEDOYIN AMOLE.
As an architect, Tunde Afonja was in London last
Spring to witness the latest developments in the
eld of architecture. He was amazed by what he
saw. He was led into rare construction of largescale
installations in distinctive idiom. He
realised that architecture was no longer in the
conventional form, as he had drawn designs that were
wholly immersing.
One of the unique designs that amazed him was that
of Chinese architect, Li Xiaodong, who constructed a
maze-like series of spaces with walls made of thin
branches. is was similar to an installation the
Chinese architect once created, which was clad entirely
in rewood. It was inspired by the woodpiles outside
each home, including gestures to the surrounding
forest.
At the Royal Academy of London, Afonja said he was
simply enveloped by nature with its soothing effect.
Trees have been the basis of architecture and furniture
design from the earliest times. It is not a surprise
therefore that modern and contemporary architectural
designs are seeking to re-engage wood. e new
direction for furniture makers is the raw use of trees,
including a sophisticated use of timber. Contemporary
designs include the use of tree branches (including the
bark) to create furniture with knobbly irregularity,
offering a poetic contrast to their geometric context.
ese are statement pieces that offer comforting
enclosure. ey are not claustrophobic as the spaces
between the branches give a glimpse of freedom.
Some of the latest designs have involved the use of
living plant instead of their machined derivatives.
While some others include the use of branches straight
from the tree, others the casting and modelling trees
and roots, or even taking highly processed wood and
using different means to give it a new life inspired by
trees.
is new trend is making consumers become aware
of the soothing nature of trees, which offers comfort
away from a world where they are increasingly
hemmed in by steel and concrete in their homes. ey
now long for that exclusive world where nature
interplays with the wayward vigour of root and branch.
“Anyone who is familiar with latest trends in
architecture,” says Afonja, “will agree with me that so
many things are changing hands. I mean there are
interesting designs that are amorous, making the
consumer nd new reasons to fall in love with wood
again. Furniture is no longer about steel. ere are very
interesting installation pieces made of tree branches.”
Some of these new designs, Afonja observes, evoke
memory of romanticism. According to him, some of
the foreign furniture makers who share this new
ideology is the Dutch company, Studio Floris Wubben.
“Studio Floris Wubben shares this romanticism but in
a different way. ey call their nature range, Tolkienish
aesthetic. eir brand promise is to enable furniture
and nature to co-operate together in ultimate
harmony.”
In addition, Afonja says British designer, Max Lamb,
is one of the international brands making interesting
pieces. “He works with many diverse materials,” he
says. “His designs are in uenced by his childhood days
growing up in the countryside in Cornwall and
Yorkshire. Some of his designs explore both house and
gardens for inspiration. One of his designs is inspired
by a yew tree that had been felled to make way for
excavations of an underground chimney and was
allowed to take away eight logs.”
Locally, however, Bolaji Dada, a furniture maker,
says Nigerian furniture makers have always fancied
working with wood, but not in an engaging way that
their foreign counterparts do. “We work with wood,”
he explains, “but not with tree branches. Tree branches
are common with carpenters who work in the villages,
but it is not a design that has really engaged the
attention of the consumers in the cities.”
Afonja says the idea of modelling from nature is
hard. To him, there is a plethora of examples.
“Mattia Bonetti, a glamorous
Swi
ss-born designer, produced
a new, nature-themed
collection that includes a
sculptural side table he
named 'Roots' and a
standing lamp. Nature
h a s a l w ay s b e e n a
source of his works
than a direct
c o p y o f
n ature ;
h i s
d e s i g n s
are inspired
by the formal
t e n s i o n
between an
irregular,
organic
i n n
er
sha
pe and a
smooth outer
skin.”
For many of these
designs, observes Toun
Adeniyi, a consumer, the
source may be primitive but the
treatment is very sophisticated.
“Some of the foreign designs evoke pure
emotion,” explains Adeniyi. “You cannot
help but feel that pure emotion when
confronted with the latest creation by internationally
renowned designers. I just collected a piece made by
Irish designer, Joseph Walsh, the last time I was in
London. He was commissioned for an exhibition at the
New Art Centre, Salisbury.” Adeniyi says she nds his
piece, 'Walsh's Magnus Celestii' with its ying shelf
very interesting. For her, the piece is a genius
demonstration of the sculptural potential of Walsh's
technique.
In addition, she says Walsh
pie
c e s a r e d r a m a t i c ,
sophisticated in that they
retain nature's original
energy. “ere is this
extraordinary desk that
stands on one foot, I
s a w a t t h e
exhibition,” says
Adeniyi, “with its
l e s i d e
spiralling
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Homes
THE LUXURY REPORTER
upwards into the ceiling, is created from one tree, with the beautiful markings of the wood displayed to powerful effect.”
According to her, the dynamism of that single plant is still present, even though the wood has been precisely engineered.
e piece almost carries the tree to its own natural apotheosis, evoking not only its insistent reaching upwards in life, but
also the circles of smoke that would arise from a re created from it, once dead.
And so, contemporary home furniture makers are producing work that digs deeply and imaginatively, into its
mysterious origins.
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Ibidunni Ighodalo's
Shades of Love
Avantgarde event planner, Ibidunni
Ighodalo, has been pushing boundaries
with her charity, touching many lives
writes FUNKE OSAE-BROWN

THE LUXURY REPORTER
Interview
Aer a 15-minute drive, the rickety Marwa I
boarded from Ikorodu bus stop arrived at
the gate of the Bola Tinubu Millennium
Estate, Ibeshie. I decided not to drive. It was
the end of the year, vehicular movement in
and outside Lagos City centre was at the peak.
Traffic logjam was at a standstill from Ojota inward
Mile 12. But that did not deter me from getting to
the venue of the Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation
(IIF) rst Christmas ‘Baby’s Day Out’.
I never had to ask the security personnel manning
the gates if I was in the right place. e number of
women with their children in tow trooping into the
large estate said it all. e tents erected on the eld
were lled with pregnant women, women with
toddlers and babies. Despite the crowd, more
women were still coming.
“More women are still coming,” said Nse, her
publicist. “e security men were turning them
back but Ibidunni told them not to send them
back.” To our amazement the number kept
growing as the day wore on.
I took my time moving from tent-to-tent talking to
some of the pregnant women. ere stories were as
diverse as their looks. Most of them cannot afford
to do decent shopping for their unborn children.
However, IIF took them on a shopping spree with
different gis brought to the venue by the
foundation.
I moved further into the main arena, looking for the
brain behind the project, Ibidunni Ighodalo, CEO of
Elizabeth R, a top-notch events’ planning company
and wife of Ituah Ighodalo, accountant and Senior
Pastor of Trinity House. Aer moving around for a few
minutes, there she was submerged in the crowd of little
children with their hands raised for the packs of food
she was sharing.
Despite the tugging and pulling at her dress, Ighodalo
remained calm through it all. She never shouted at the
children. I could see the untold joy on her face, the
sense of satisfaction of touching many lives.
Ighodalo’s life has been one of many paradoxes. She has
turned a critical part of her life into a life-saving guard
for many families. rough the many activities of IIF,
she has brought hope, joy and laughter into many
homes. More importantly, she is truly blessed. She has
been a mother to many children who have found
succour beneath the wings of her foundation. Like the
biblical Sarah, she has birthed many stars, who are
uncountable like the sand by the seashore.
In addition to the Baby Day Out programme, her
foundation has funded IVF treatment for couples who
are hoping to have their own babies. Casting her own
care aside, Ighodalo has shouldered and keeps
shouldering the needs of other families most especially
women.
“My focus now is to help others, one at a time,” she told
is Day Newspaper in a previous interview. “I want to
make a family happy and with the help of God, their
prayers would be answered. I know the pain and what it
feels like. It will give me joy to see them jumping and
rejoicing, saying that they are expecting their own
children. I have seen it happen. I have seen the two
sides during my course of treatment. I said, God help
me, let me do this. When you focus on helping others,
you don’t know the blessings that come back to you. It
is difficult, but I said Lord you have put this in me, You
have to provide. You know when God gives you a
vision, He makes the provision. I have been amazed at
the response. It is unbelievable.”
IIF was created to raise awareness on issues pertaining
to infertility and to provide grants for couples that
require fertility treatments such as In Vitro
Fertilization (IVF) and Intrauterine Insemination.
e foundation partners with highly reputable fertility
clinics in Nigeria and with other donors to provide
couples with the nancial and material support they
require during the treatments. It also provides the
necessary psychological and spiritual support they
require to deal with the pressures they face along their
journey to conception.
A graduate of Microbiology from the University of
Lagos (UNILAG), Ighodalo has used the platform of
IIF to award grants for fertility treatment such as In
Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Frozen Embryo Transfer and
Intrauterine Insemination.
When the foundation was launched two years ago, her
plan was to help one or two couples who were in need
but the number of applications she received would
alter the course of the foundation positively. e plan
was changed to accommodate 28 couples.
“ere are some couples that have applied that have
been married for between 20 and 25 years and when I
read their history, they have come to a point where they
are tired. I even found out that it was their family that
applied for some of them. A lot of people have asked me
why I don’t face my life, why I am trying to be Mother
eresa. What is it? Is it that you have so much money
you don’t know what to do with it? I can’t even explain
it,” she explains.
Sharing her personal story on the IIF website, she
recalled how as a newly married couple, she and her
husband, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, looked forward to
starting their family and holding their children in their
arms. To their dismay, aer getting married 11 years
ago, they watched the years roll by without a child of
their own.
“Aer several doctors’ appointments,” she wrote in the
post, “we were told that we wouldn’t have children
unless we sought treatment through assisted
reproduction. is was the doctor’s report we received,
but we choose to believe God’s own report, unshaken
in our faith as we rmly believe that that we will have
our children. is period of delay also came with
pressure and a lot of insensitivity from people to our
situation. I also had to deal with the emotions, pain and
the roller-coaster hormonal imbalance that comes
with all sorts of treatments. ankfully, I am married to
an amazing man who has been there for me through all
the procedures; un inching in his support.”
She later made up her mind to stop worrying over
childbearing and to just keep trusting God while
helping other couples through their own fertility
journey. “As I prayed and mulled over the idea, I felt
peace and that was how the IIF was born.” Since then,
she hasn’t looked back.
Ighodalo is not new to charity. She has been a great
supporter of Heritage Homes, a motherless babies’
home. She is equally involved in Lydia Grace, a
foundation for socially challenged women. Also, she
offers support to her brother’s charity, Biire
Foundation, an NGO that caters to malnourished
children, women and People living with HIV.
With her involvement in charity, Ighodalo is sure
pushing boundaries and making positive impacts on
many lives.
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Feature
THE LUXURY REPORTER
Room With A View
A metropolis surrounded by rolling desert dunes on one side and the sparkling Arabian Gulf on the other, Dubai boasts magni cent
views at every turn. Be it the fronds of the iconic Palm Jumeirah, the city's futuristic skyline and towering Burj Khalifa, or the sandy
beaches by the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab, the views from Dubai's hotel rooms are invariably impressive and arresting. Read on for our
pick of the best, most Insta-worthy rooms and vistas.
Underwater Suite, Atlantis The Palm
Providing a once-in-a-lifetime
experience, the renowned Poseidon
and Neptune Underwater Suites at
Atlantis boast spectacular oor-toceiling
windows that peer straight
into the hotel's Ambassador Lagoon
Aquarium. Guests can watch the
underwater world play out from the
three-storey suite's bed, bath or
lounge area, and marvel at 14
different species of shark, majestic
stingrays and over 65,000 marine
creatures.
Burj View Suite, Manzil Downtown Dubai
e 48-square-metre Burj View
Suites truly capture the essence of
Arabian hospitality and splendour,
accompanied by breath-taking views
of the Burj Khalifa. e postcardperfect
vista is best enjoyed from the
suites' terraces at night, when the
Burj puts on a multi-hued light show
as the backdrop to the spectacular
Dubai Fountain. e world's tallest
building also makes for a majestic
sight when you open the curtains the
next morning.
Bedouin Suite, Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa
Nestled in a lush palm oasis deep within Dubai's magical
desert landscape, the Bedouin Suites of Al Maha Resort spill
out into an endless vista of undulating dunes, framed by the
faint outline of the distant Hajar Mountains. e unique resort
is located in the protected Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
and surrounded by indigenous Arabian wildlife – including
the Arabian Oryx and gazelles.
For further information, visit www.al-maha.com
Armani Fountain Suite, Armani Hotel Dubai
Ocean Suite, Jumeirah Mina A'Salam
Guests at Jumeirah Mina
A ' S a l a m – M a d i n a t
Jumeirah can enjoy farreaching,
uninterrupted
views of the Arabian Gulf
and the majestic Burj Al
Arab. Whether it's from
your private balcony or on a
boat ride through the
Venetian-inspired network
of water channels, guests can take in breath-taking views
all across the property, framed by the hotel's tastefully
decorated interiors inspired by Dubai's sand dunes and
Bedouin traditions
Located in the heart of Downtown Dubai, the rst hotel from
fashion designer Giorgio Armani features stylish, re ned
luxury complemented by unhindered views from within the
world's tallest tower, the Burj Khalifa. e Armani Hotel Dubai
occupies the rst eight oors as well as levels 38 and 39 of the
iconic building and provides guests with unparalleled views,
along with direct access to e Dubai Mall, Souk Al Bahar and
the recently opened Dubai Opera. Here, guests can appreciate
the inimitable splendour of Dubai's iconic skyline from the
comfort of the Armani Fountain Suite or enjoy an unrivalled
vantage point from the suite's balcony.
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