This season at SunnyLIFE sees us vastly expanding our outdoor dining and entertaining focus with our Melamine and Acrylic ranges. When creating this collection we were focused on function and purpose – everything has to enhance the way our customers live and entertain. Obviously – how it looks is an element of that “enhancement” and from my point of view, it looks brilliant! It just keeps getting better - given the fact it’s also dishwasher safe.

A new member of our design team, Adrienne, suggested that I reintroduce the ‘Things I Like’ posts to the blog. Good idea…

Recently, I was fortunate enough to attend a very good friend’s wedding in Trani, Italy. It was an amazing experience – like something out of an Italian movie (see the pic below). The wedding venue, and where I stayed for 4 days, was the Mare Resort in the centre of the old town. The Mare is a converted Palazzo with just 13 rooms, so by virtue of being one of those lucky few, I felt like an Italian aristocrat – I really tried to dress the part. The hotel was created by the people behind the Italian homewares brand Culti – one of my absolute favorites (think SunnyLIFE meets Armani Casa). I can highly recommend the hotel – and if you do get there, make sure you send my regards to Gaia… Quite possibly the happiest and nicest person I’ve ever encountered working in a hotel. For Culti visit www.culti.it  and for the hotel visit www.mareresort.it.

Oh – and big congratulations to Jess & Sabino.

It’s mid-July – which at SunnyLIFE means that summer has arrived, or more specifically our summer collection is being launched. The launch is the culmination of many months of work by so many people – it’s a big moment for us so you’ll have to indulge me a little.

I’m incredibly proud of the new range – it is truly the execution of our founding vision to furnish a complete sunny lifestyle. Early on, we identified the blurring of the distinction between living and entertaining indoors and out. Walls are literally coming down between living rooms and alfresco entertaining areas and SunnyLIFE is right there providing all the elements to complete that space.

I’ll blog about the this year’s categories individually (far be it from me to gush) – but our re-categorization will help convey how our offer is expanding. Beach – our original category, Kitchen & Dining, Living, Outdoor Living and Bathroom all include products that will help make your space and life more sunny.

The image I’ve posted is my favourite shot (from our photo shoot in May) – our cushions and acrylic champagne glass look so chic and LA. Phillipa, our model, looked very chic too.

Enjoy looking at the new collection online – it will be in store from next month.

Happy Summer,

Joel.

Do I start with an apology? Do I pretend nothing happened? Do I provide excuses or do I just move on? Let’s try all of the above…

I’m sorry that my posts dried up - my attentions were elsewhere, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t care about the blog… I do. The good news is that I’m back - and I have a secret weapon up my sleeve that means the blog will never again be unloved.

Stay tuned. JB.