Stunning pieces! I also think that Deific Jewelry is worth mentioning in this list. It’s a high end Los Angeles based jewelry company that offers purely handcrafted statement pieces that are both edgy and luxurious. My hubby can’t get enough of their badass collection!

We met Pantone’s lush choice for Colour Of The Year 2017 back in December. The vibrant hue, dubbed Greenery, is a symbol of renewal and optimism, and a reminder to seek connection with nature.

The year’s signature shade is also the theme of a very special home in London, which is now available to rent for £200 per night on Airbnb.

“Ever wondered what it’s like to step into colour? Or spend the night in colour?” asks the listing. “Pantone invites you and your family to spend up to three nights in our unique ‘Outside In’ house, bringing to life the Pantone Colour of the Year 2017, Greenery, a fresh and zesty yellow-green shade symbolic of new beginnings, evoking the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore, and renew.”

The home in London’s trendy Clerkenwell neighbourhood has undergone a head-to-toe transformation at the hands of Pantone and Airbnb. The collaborators created an indoor-outdoor oasis with a woodland reception, an indoor greenhouse, and its very own private Groundskeeper. Step through the Pantone door and you’ll feel like you’ve entered an eco-friendly Narnia.

During their stay, guests are invited to shower in the Rainforest Room and bathe in a tropical lagoon downstairs. A living moss mat replaces the traditional bathmat. Light and health-conscious refreshments are provided (including, of course, cold-pressed green juices). Guests are also welcome to take cuttings from the herb garden and pick leaves from around the house to make tea.

The ‘Outside In’ house is available now for overnight bookings between January 27-30, which means you’ll have to move fast if you want to sleep in this leafy urban retreat.

Alternatively, if spending the night is not in the cards, you can explore the Pantone x Airbnb house by partaking in Airbnb’s new feature, Experiences, during the day. Experience participants can learn more about plant life, create their own terrarium, or make their own gin.

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This story was originally published on Gizmodo

Taking risks in life can sometimes lead to great things. If you took those risks and they made you rich enough to buy a Porsche 911 R, congratulations. I’m just not sure the risk of drifting that 911 R on a snowy mountain road is worth it, though.

In an Instagram video uploaded by powerslidelover, somebody with a nice watch does just that:

You don’t always need a 4×4 on the snow… but you have to be prepared to be constantly sideways #Porsche #911R

A video posted by PowerslideLover (@powerslidelover) on Jan 14, 2017 at 12:38pm PST

Yea, sure, there’s no need for a 4×4 in the snow, but there’s also no need for the immense amount of anxiety I feel while watching this video.

At least the driver seems to know what they’re doing, just, you know, be careful man.

Thanks for sending this our way, Nicolò!

Gizmodo explores the smart design, breakthrough science and awe-inspiring tech shaping your future.

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The post Drifting A Porsche 911 R Up A Snowy Mountain Is A Very Expensive Adrenaline Rush appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Winter is a time of hibernation for many. When the season arrives, the less hardy among us retreat to their homes for warm beverages and Netflix binges.

But for the rest of us, the cooler climate brings its own kind of adventure, and it’s prime time to explore places all around the world that shine their brightest when the mercury drops.

Whether you’re looking to flee the snow or fly headfirst into it, this dazzling planet of ours offers a destination for every kind of cold weather traveller. Find yours here, in the D’Marge guide to the best places to visit in winter.

Hallstatt, Austria

Nestled between the edge of Hallstätter See and the Dachstein mountains, Hallstatt is Austria’s oldest and most photogenic village. Dramatic visuals are in ample supply here, courtesy of the towering peaks, the lake’s glassy waters, and the fairytale architecture of the town. The arresting scenery makes for a beautiful visit at any time of year, but it looks especially lovely under a dusting of powder (and isn’t quite so crowded with tourists).

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Gobi Desert, Mongolia

It may be a desert, but there’s nothing warm about it in winter. Most travellers choose summer to explore the vast landscapes and nomadic cultures of Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, but more intrepid adventurers brave winter’s below-freezing temperatures to experience a different side of the wild terrain. Come during the Thousand Camel Festival to witness races and polo competitions in which participants compete atop endangered Bactrian camels, as well as performances of traditional Mongolian music and dance.

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Lapland, Finland

One of winter’s most jaw-dropping sights is the Aurora Borealis – aka the Northern Lights. The colourful spectacle can be witnessed in a variety of frigid, northerly locales, but Finland is indisputably one of the finest. Head to Lapland, which is shrouded in almost total darkness during winter, and check into the Kakslauttanen Resort to cross the aurora off your bucket list from the comfort of reindeer-drawn sleigh rides and your own personal glass igloo. Pack layers.

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Jigokudani Monkey Park, Japan

Four words: monkeys in hot springs. Getting to Jigokudani can be a challenge, thanks to the steep cliffs, narrow footpath, and formidably cold forest, but your reward for making the journey is a population of Japanese macaques that love nothing more than bathing in the location’s steaming natural hot springs. If you’re tempted to take a dip yourself, Jigokudani Monkey Park is a short distance from several onsens that accept human bathers.

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Queenstown, New Zealand

We’ve sung the praises of Queenstown on multiple previous occasions. The New Zealand city has been dubbed ‘the adventure capital of the world’ and wears the badge with great pride. Visitors can hike, bike, bungee jump, zipline, sky dive, rock climb, hang glide, boat on Lake Wakatipu, speed down luge tracks, go off-roading on quad bikes, and more in Queenstown, but come winter, it’s all about the slopes. Skiiers and snowboarders from around the world flock to Treble Cone, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, and Cardrona for their world-class powder.

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Costa Rica

Winter is dry season in Costa Rica, which means warm weather galore and no torrential downpours to interrupt your sunbathing. The Central American country has coastlines on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, offering more than enough soft sand and inviting water for all visitors. Inland you’ll find a chain of volcanoes and rainforest teeming with exotic wildlife like spider monkeys and quetzal birds.

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Harbin, China

There’s one reason to brave northeastern China’s bitter winters: the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival. The renowned ‘Ice City’ draws visitors from home and abroad each year for the event. Sun Island, one of the festival’s two main exhibition areas, contains enormous ice sculptures carved by ice artists. The second area is Ice and Snow World, a city of full-size ice buildings that are illuminated with colourful lights. Winter activities in the festival include skiing, snow mobile driving, swimming in the Songhua River, and a traditional ice-lantern exhibition.

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Les Trois Valleés, France

If you’re going to ski, you might as well ski on the world’s finest slopes. France’s Les Trois Valleés – The Three Valleys – is considered by many to be home to those slopes. The region’s acclaimed resorts include Courchevel, Méribel, Les Menuires, St-Martin-de-Belleville, and the legendary Val Thorens. With over 600km of varying pistes and more than 200 lifts, Les Trois Valleés is the largest ski area in the world – and since 1973, you can experience it all with a single ski pass.

The post Where & When Guide: The Best Places To Visit In Winter appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Living under a rock has never looked so good.

Ibiza is best known for its sexy beaches and non-stop nightlife, but travel a bit farther north and you’ll find yourself somewhere surprisingly idyllic: a home tucked away in a 400-year-old cave.

Owners Pietro Cuevas and David Swayne left their life in the United States nearly 20 years ago. They relocated to Spain, and as luck would have it, spent a night in the cave dwelling before settling in Barcelona. It was love at first sight. The couple vowed to one day make it their home, and a decade later, the dream came true.

Cuevas and Swayne remodelled the kitchen and repaired the walls, but left the original wood beam ceilings intact. Today the space is stripped back and whitewashed, celebrating the home’s simplicity and offering a sense of serenity, while the décor mixes contemporary urban sophistication with rustic elements. It’s a peaceful escape from Ibiza’s rowdier scenes.

Elsewhere in Spain, near Córdoba, UMMOestudio designed the second of these two spectacular cave houses. Like the first home, this one embraces original elements (in this case, the rugged surface of the stone) while adding pristine whitewashed walls and concrete floors.

“We decided to focus the intervention toward a fluid and continuous dialogue between pre-existing conditions and the new architecture,” say the architects, “always from a respectful position seeking proximity rather than direct contact.”

Clean-cut contemporary design once again provides a pleasant contrast to the natural setting. The white exterior stands out from the surrounding stone, while modern materials such as concrete and aluminium accentuate the ancient age of the carved rock.

The post Two Caves Transformed Into Pristine Homes In Spain appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

A Las Vegas window changed everything for Gray Malin. One day in 2011, while staying with friends in the Nevada city, Malin snapped a photo from his hotel room overlooking the pool. The image became his desktop background, then inspired a helicopter flight over Miami Beach, then became the basis of his most famous works to date.

Malin followed up his Miami adventure with trips to Australia, Brazil, South Africa, the UAE, and more. In the last five years, he has photographed beaches on six continents for his series “A La Plage.” Today the images grace iPhone cases and gift wrap, water bottles and walls, beach towels and swim shorts. They can also be found in his best-selling 2016 book, Beaches.

To capture his famous bird’s eye views, Malin photographs from doorless helicopters. He must navigate complex legalities and weather conditions, and find the right camera settings with limited time, all while precariously leaning out the door of the chopper. It’s worth the effort, the photographer says, because his seaside subjects never cease to amaze.

RELATED: Artist Gray Malin Showcases The Realities Of A Modern Day Vacation

“Every beach has its own unique qualities,” he told Slate, “but overall I believe ‘the beach’ is universal, whether it be a rocky beach in Italy or the white sands St. Barths, the one thing that is constant is that the beach makes everyone feel relaxed and happy.”

Indeed, it’s hard to look at Malin’s photographs without feeling both joy and a pang of jealousy. His aerial angles reveal scenes that are almost impossibly vibrant and playful. These beaches are lively and luxurious, full of bright colours and dynamic patterns and interesting shapes. It’s no wonder the name Gray Malin is practically synonymous with paradise.

The post Embrace Eternal Summer With Gray Malin's Aerial Beach Photography appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Pretty much everyone who owns a smartphone (looking at you Windows Phone users), has had some kind of experience with paying for stuff with their phone by now. If you’re anything like me, you may have gotten access to Android Pay on your phone, only to take it off once you realise that it forces you to put a PIN number on your phone. This is 2017, Google. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

If you’re more inclined towards the iPhone, you may have heard about the ongoing battle between Apple and four of Australia’s biggest banks – CBA, NAB, Westpac and Bendigo Bank. This is probably because you’re still stuck waiting for Apple Pay while your friends with Samsung’s or an ANZ account smugly pull out their phones when they go to pay for their coffee.

So why don’t you, good reader, have access to Apple Pay yet? Ask your bank, and their answer will probably be pretty shallow. In a counter-argument, we’d put forward that they simply need to stop whining and offer it anyway.

In case you were still unsure as to how the attitudes of these big banks differ to everyone else, consider this. The South West Slopes Credit Union, Big Sky Building Society, Beyond Bank, MyState Bank Ltd and the Northern Inland Credit union ALL offer Apple Pay to their customers. I’d never heard of them either. Some of the mid-sized banks (think Defence Bank, Teachers Credit Union etc.), and only one of Australia’s big 4, ANZ currently offers it.

The reason that so many small banks have jumped on board is what makes Apple Pay truly unique as a way of paying for things. In the case of Android Pay, for instance, you’re required to unlock your phone, open the app of whatever bank’s card you want to pay with, and unlock that before you’re granted access to pay with your phone.

With Apple Pay though, your phone uses NFC – technology that enables the exchange of data between devices over about a 10cm distance – when you hold it near an EFTPOS terminal to open its own app, Apple Wallet, without you even needing to unlock your phone. Within Apple Wallet you’re given access to ALL your cards from all the banks and credit providers you might be with, so you can choose from your entire wallet straight away. It doesn’t even store your credit card details, instead generating a unique code every time you elect to pay with a certain card to authenticate your purchase. You also need to verify each purchase with Touch ID as well, adding another layer of security.

This is where the big banks dig in their heels. They want access to Apple’s NFC so your iPhone will automatically open to their app instead of Apple Wallet. And yes, if you’re thinking, “but doesn’t that completely defeat the purpose of Apple Pay?” – well, yep.

Of course, they’re totally ignoring the will of the people. On 28^th April, ANZ announced that they’d be entering a deal with Apple to offer Apple Pay on its American Express and Visa Cards. The same day, they experienced a doubling in bank account applications, a 20% rise in Credit Card Applications, and in the 4 days that followed, over 60,000 unique visitors to their Apple Pay microsite. Combine this with the fact that Apple controls around 70% of the smartphone market in Australia, and that’s a recipe for customers in anyone’s eyes.

The post Australian Banks Should Get Over Themselves & Embrace Apple Pay appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Food markets, street art, vintage shopping, funky cafes, waterfront views, rich history, flourishing cultural scenes – the coolest neighbourhoods to visit in 2017 are an eclectic mix of up-and-coming hotspots.

Each year, Airbnb releases the top trending neighbourhoods to watch for in cities around the world. This year’s data was culled from 14 million guests staying at three million homes. At the top of the list is Milneburg in New Orleans, a cosy and quiet respite from the action of the French Quarter. In second place is the foodie paradise of Kampung Baru in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Melbourne’s Fitzroy rounds out the top three.

The winning neighbourhoods share a few consistent themes that hint at emerging travel trends. They are urban but not dense, indicating that travellers are looking to experience city life at a more laid-back pace. Many also offer expansive green spaces, reinforcing the desire for relaxing stays that remain a short distance from metropolitan hustle and bustle.

Another consistent motif – no surprise to the gourmands – is food. Sampling the local cuisine is one of the best ways to experience a destination, and travellers are increasingly clued on. Walkable foodie hubs made multiple appearances on this year’s list, including Bangkok’s Din Daeng district, famed for its roadside markets, and Midtown Miami.

The post Airbnb Names The 17 Hottest Neighbourhoods To Visit In 2017 appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Face it guys. If you want a girlfriend (or boyfriend) the chances are you’re going to need to put on some pants and go on a date.

Historically, there’s no better way to achieve this than by going to a mutually agreed bar, sitting awkwardly opposite each other and exchanging banalities which in theory should get you lucky.

It’s a cluster-royale of pitfalls. So, do at least give yourself a fighting chance by taking note of the best Brisbane date bars to sample.

Maker

What’s striking about Maker is the marriage between the hole-in-the-wall, back alley of Barcelona feel combined with the Shinjuku-style drinking dens of Tokyo.

It’s wonderfully intimate, with a capacity of 25 people including outside seating. And once inside there’s only one place to be: front row, along the 7.5m-long brass metal bar. It’s pure theatre.

Custom-glazed porcelain lights dramaturgically illuminating the bar staff, free-flowing and debonair, manipulating exotic ingredients, cocktail kits, designer glassware, all captured in every grace of detail. It’s impossible to get cocktails like these anywhere else in Brisbane and is the perfect way to sprinkle a touch of stagecraft into proceedings.

The name is a nod to the wine and spirit-makers who fill their shelves, with a binary focus on half Australian; half international artisan wines and high-end spirits.

And if the devil is in the detail, then the drinks menu is riddled with evil spirits (they even make their own liqueurs and infusions – Negronis are made using house-infused vermouth).

The food is exquisite too, with the shucked-to-order oysters a must-try. So, if nitrogen-chilled Martinis and beeswax-washed Starward, coffee, pollen and macadamia cocktails over a hand-chipped ice globe wouldn’t hinder your chances, you know where to go.

9 Fish Ln, South Brisbane

Fromage [The Cow]

Reportedly, cheese possesses ten times more PEA, or phenylethylamine – thought to release the same rush of hormones during bonking – as does chocolate.

So, lovers of cheese take note: Fromage [The Cow] is here to liven that labido. Cheese is what they do, and with 80 different types of the stuff no less (there’s a glass-walled walk-in cheese room for tasting or takeaway) it’s fair to say Brisbane’s first licensed fromagerie is an unashamed orgy of cheese.

And with so much curdled joy on offer it would be sacrilege without a truly global wine list to match. The in-house wine bar doesn’t disappoint, with an extensive variety of premium reds and whites (predominantly French, Italian and Australian), roses, an array of sparklings and three dolce options for afters.

Relax at the wine bar and make your way through some amazing pairings, or for fuss-free purposes, plump for the Fromage Signature Cheese Platter where you’ll have a choice of 15 cheeses along with quince, preserves, fruit, bread and grissini.

If you want something more substantial, breakfast, lunch and dinner menus are all available, offering decadent cheese-inspired dishes. Our advice? Keep it simple, and stick to the winning sum of: wine + cheese = “YES PLEASE”, and you won’t be going far wrong.

14 Park Rd, Milton

The Gresham Bar

The Gresham Bar isn’t your average CBD bar. The building dates back to 1881 and nestles in the heritage-listed National Australia Bank.

Originally designed for the Queensland National Bank, retaining many original features, including the old bank’s drop safe by the entrance. The place oozes class and sophistication of a bygone era, and, though the London gentleman’s club feel, possesses a nostalgic current of Old World ambience and effortless warmth.

Victorian fireplace, chesterfield couches, upright piano, gramophone, the occasional cluster of hanging vintage frames and gilt mirrors, all contained under 7m-high pressed metal ceilings. It’s a step back in time primed for great conversation.

Known for their whiskey – the list of rye and bourbon is unrivalled in the city – The Gresham Bar’s carefully selected range of draught beers, wine and spirits more than punches its weight.

And the cocktail list, a precious lineup of cleverly crafted, exquisitely executed marvels, is precisely the sort of upmarket drinking you’ll be needing.

So settle in on the couches of the library room, grab a table (and table service) in the main bar or, for those warmer evenings, wander outside onto the delightful wraparound terrace overlooking the laneway.

Good luck old chap.

308 Queen St, Brisbane City

Junk Bar

In Junk Bar, Brisbane’s inner city Ashgrove suburb throws up quite the gem. Through the unassuming sliding door and the heavy red velvet curtains belies a feast of densely packed retro furnishings and vintage pieces, cocooned in an alpine wood cabin-style lounge.

It’s a visual buffet of low-lit lamps, rugs, classic wooden tables and chairs and velour couches, soundtracked to the warm hiss of a 45. Mounted deer head, leafy wallpaper and an award-winning collection of junk store finds – hence the name – fill the venue, and the wonderful 70s tiki-style is as charming as charming gets. To glance over at your nan knitting away in a rocking chair would be unsurprising.

Bricolage interior aside, the drinks aren’t half bad either. And who’s to argue with teapot gin? Nobody. There is something romantically appropriate about sharing fruity gin-based cocktails served with – clink clink, blush blush – a quaint little tea set.

The service is spot on, the cocktails as vibrant and fresh as they come, and, for that extra oomph, there’s live music from local artists each and every week. And if you’re peckish, the staff think nothing of grabbing you a takeaway from one of the neighbouring eateries and dishing it up on their own crockery. How sweet.

215 Waterworks Rd, Ashgrove

The End

Before The End came to be it was formerly the local video store.

Now, the late Trash Video lives on with a visual homage to rentals past. A giant tribute painting of old cassette spines and a scattering of classic VCR tapes sees nicely to that. They even produce classic film-inspired cocktails (mine’s a Die Hard on the rocks!), lending further to an inadvertent vaporwave aesthetic.

And if you’re wanting to show off your rum-antic side then The End’s thirst for lashings of the Caribbean liquor will keep your cockles warm and your spirits high. Whether it’s Mount Gay, Kraken, Angostura 7yr or the like, this West End speakeasy-style watering hole provides a home for the hipsters and excels in seasonal cocktails with a twist.

By no means do they limit themselves to rum though. Home brews, boutique ciders and a cocktail list your imagination long, it’s a playground for some of the most tirelessly inventive mixologists around.

Some creations are eye-wateringly beautiful, always pushing the creative envelope, always garnishing with flair. And Above all: unfailingly boozy and delicious.

Tip: The Forget Me Not is a date night winner, the alcoholic equivalent of a bunch of flowers. Boozy bouquets to one side, The End is an extremely easy place to session in for a few hours, and with a capacity of 60 people and snug furnishings, the place generates a great vibe without getting too big, or rowdy, for its boots.

Here’s to your night turning into an action thriller, rather than a straight-up farce.

73 Vulture St, West End

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