Hester Underhill - Contributors | Monocle

Contributors / Hester Underhill

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Start the dance

Dance hall La Paloma thrived for more than a century until a barrage of noise complaints closed its doors. Now, soundproofed and reimagined, the party is back.

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Domestic harmony

A power couple of Catalan design has commissioned a new home – and the result is a celebration of their scene and its people.

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Golden touch

Newly renovated and redesigned, 195 Piccadilly gives Bafta the space the academy has always deserved.

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Walk this way

Unbeknown to many, a region in southern Spain has a pep in its step thanks to decades of experience producing speciality footwear. Now the world’s premier shoe brands are striding towards its factories and keeping its…

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Take cover

From aprons and kitchen whites to front-of-house outfits, the storied Spanish business providing trusty hospitality workwear is busier than ever.

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On the floor

Just like the striking rugs that they produce, Nani Marquina’s team at the namesake firm she runs in the Catalan capital is tightly knit.

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Collecting the set

How a personal haul of modernist homeware became a premier prop source for the global film industry.

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Statues of liberty

The upheavals of the 20th century have left an indelible mark on Lithuania’s second city. But as Kaunas becomes the European Capital of Culture for 2022, it is shrugging off the effects of a restrictive Soviet past to…

Global

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Stick ’em up!

When done well, posters can persuade us to buy a pen, observe social norms or fly to a faraway land. They look great too. Put them on your walls.

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Top of the props

From silent movies to streaming, the history of Studio Babelsberg is the history of film itself. Its art department’s scenery, sets and replica models have appeared on screens for more than a century. As directors worldwide…

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29. Morning glory

Whether you’ve barely slept a wink or slumbered soundly for 10 hours, your morning routine sets the tone for the day. So choose a select soap, terrific toothpaste and refined radio. Sound good? Let’s make a start.

Global

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Room for all

Having a library isn’t about hoarding stuffy, leather-bound books. It could just be a modest bedside pile. It’s more about keeping a paper trail of where you’ve been and what you were thinking, while saving room for surp…

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What a snip

What could be a gentler intervention than beautifying your balcony or cultivating something edible from scratch? Here are some well-made pieces of hardware to help you get your yard in order and transform those borders,…

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Perks of the job

Entrepreneurial leaders need to focus on their staff too. Here are our tips for how to make the nine to five a pleasure rather than a chore for your team, from making the commute an attractive prospect to welcoming furry…

Global

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Good sport

As the world gets moving again, it’s time for us to pick up the pace. Here’s our selection of the sports and fitness attire to help you shift into a higher gear – and look good while you’re at it.

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Seeding change

Spring feels different this year. But the simple pleasure of caring for your patch (whether it’s a city window box or a lawn in the countryside) remains a powerful pleasure. Since so many people are cooped up at home, we’ve…

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Establishing order

So you’ve got the gear but how do you ensure that your clothes stay looking sharp? These elegant tools are tailored to that precise goal.

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Top of the shops

Too many nations have lost touch with their craft and manufacturing heritage, but Austria’s hands-on culture is clear from its products. Here we eye up a few highlights and tasteful takehomes, from ceramics to Styrian gin…

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Into the wild

Venture out and explore the great outdoors – but not without a hardy pair of boots, a rainproof jacket and all the gear you might need on your hike through the wilderness.

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Open book

The Finnish capital’s new public library was the result of an anonymous open competition. As other cities look for a less ‘starchitect’ future, it shows what can be achieved with a little democracy.

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Grand scale

Majestic Mas de Tanit rose up on the French Riviera in the 1970s and has been attracting glamorous – and global – holidaymakers and residents ever since. We find out who’s who.

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