Union Jack meets the Tricolore in the luxurious surroundings of Hotel Sofitel-St James and its highly regarded St James Bar. With its pedigree address close to Buckingham Palace, walking distance from St. James Park and Pall Mall’s renowned gentlemen’s clubs, and a quiet refuge between the bustle of Trafalgar Square and bright lights of the West End, every inch of this destination oozes Franco-Britannique charm and splendour.
The St James Bar’s cosy and seductive elegance takes inspiration from parfumier- designer Coco Chanel's 1920's Paris apartment. This apartment above the Chanel shop in Rue Cambon has been preserved exactly as Coco left it on her death in 1971, overflowing with gold trim, crystal chandeliers, oriental antiques, art deco furnishings and a uniquely mirrored staircase where Coco would apparently sit and watch her fashion shows happening downstairs in reflection, whilst completely hidden from view.
The bar is festooned with Coco’s favoured birds, camellias, and bronze statues. Sit at the long bar or curl up on comfy brocaded sofas beneath the towering ceiling painting of the ‘rooster-headed gentleman’ and enjoy un grand choix of original, vintage and signature cocktails mixed by keen and knowledgeable staff. Alternatively, ask the Bar’s Champagne Angel to help you navigate the extensive champagne and sparkling wine list. If you’re feeling peckish, there’s an all day menu of bites, main dishes and sharing plates with a distinct Franglais twist.
St James Bar’s most popular drink is its signature 1921, dedicated to the birth year of Coco’s most famous perfume, Chanel No 5. A sweet and respectful combination of jasmine, rose water, lime and cranberry juices, finished with a spritz of Bergamot mist from a classic perfume bottle, it can only be described as magnifique. By contrast, the Barbaresque is most definitely a man’s drink, a stylish blend of rum, Curacao liqueur, lemon and a touch of nutmeg.
Other stand out cocktails include the Vieux Carre, combining rye whiskey, cognac, sweet vermouth, Benedictine and Peychaud bitters and created in the French Quarter of New Orleans in 1938; Paris 75, made with gin, Cointreau, lemon and sage sorbet topped with champagne and Jacques Rose, a delectable version of the classic Jack Rose, made famous by author and drinks aficionado, Ernest Hemingway. This one’s made with Calvados, a traditional liqueur of fresh Normandy apples and pears, fine Moet & Chandon champagne and a scoop of handmade grenadine and lime sorbet. This highly enjoyable 2-in-1 cocktail journey begins with slow, sumptuous sips of Calvados-enriched champagne; when you can’t bear waiting any longer, stir in the rich, dark, sorbet mound and sip again!
When trying to keep your home neat and tidy, cleaning up the clutter is the first thing to do. Better yet, don’t let clutter accumulate in the first place! The best way to reduce or avoid clutter altogether is to handle each thing only once. Instead of dropping dirty clothes on the floor only to have to pick it up later and put it in the laundry hamper, put them directly into the laundry basket. Put things away the first time. It takes you less time to do it right the first time than having to come back and put clutter away later.
If you find putting stuff away in the first place is too tough for you, you may want to have a designated clutter area – perhaps a bin in a closet or a specific place on the kitchen counter. Be sure to periodically put away the things at your clutter spot. Once you are in the habit of putting your clutter in your designated place, you may find it easier to gradually start putting things away instead of in the clutter spot.
In many cases, once you start eliminating clutter, you will find it easier to keep your house clean, as a sense of pride in a clean home can be encouraging for everyone in the home.
Cleaning Hardwood floors
Your hardwood floor is installed. There is no flooring that looks as comfortable or luxurious as a beautiful hardwood floor. How do you care for and clean Hardwood flooring? It is an investment you certainly want to protect. Most major stores will have hardwood floor basics for equipment and supplies for cleaning hardwood floors. You may find some specialty pieces of equipment at flooring stores.
Floor mats are essential when it comes to cleaning hardwood floors. Tiny particles, like dirt, can act like sandpaper and scratch your wood. A floor mat at each entryway and having family members and guests to wipe their feet, the majority of dirt and grime will remain on the mat. Having a good mat before and after you go in your home goes a long way to trap the dirt before you enter the house. Try and use over sized mats where you can and regularly sweep or vacuum them as well. Also put a floor mat or rug in any area where water could be splashed — like near the kitchen sink. This will hinder any possible water damage.
Note that rubber-backed or non-ventilated floor mats or rugs can damage your floor. Instead use floor mats or rugs made especially for hardwood floors or use hardwood floor pads under the mat. It is pretty important to keep under the mats clean as well a build up of dirt and the movement of the mat will cause damage to the floors.
The more frequently you clean the easier it is to keep your hardwood floors clean, and the better care you take, the longer your floor will maintain its original beauty. Step one is to purchase a high quality broom so that you can sweep your floor regularly of dirt, dust and other particles.
Second step is a vacuum cleaner without a beater bar, to get in between the boards and other hard to reach areas. Be sure your vacuum tool is always in good repair and the brushes are good, once they wear you don’t want the actual tool to start scratching the hardwood floors.
Deeper cleaning techniques vary depending on the installation and finish of your hardwood floor. For “Finish in Place” hardwood floors, using terrycloth mop with a rotating head that makes cleaning corners, under cabinets and along base boards as simple. In any case always use very little water this is why standard mops not recommended to clean hardwood floors. A flat hardwood floor mop leaves little space for water and is always best.
Professional cleaning products recommended by your flooring retailer can be used to remove tough stains and spills without dulling the finish of your wood floor. Makers of “Pre-finished” floors recommend their own specific products for routine maintenance. Check with your retailer for details.
Do and Don’ts
Don’t wax a wood floor with a urethane finish
Do use cleaners that won’t leave a film or residue
Don’t use ammonia cleaners or oil soaps on a wood floor — they’ll dull the finish and affect your ability to recoat later
Do use a professional hardwood floor cleaner to remove occasional scuffs and heel marks (just spray some cleaner on a cloth and rub the stained area lightly)
Don’t wet mop or use excessive water to clean your floor (wood naturally expands when it’s wet and can cause your floor to crack or splinter).
Do clean sticky spots with a damp towel or sponge
Do minimize water exposure and clean spills immediately
If and when your hardwood floor begins to look like it belongs beneath the feet of gold miners in an old western saloon, it’s time to consider screening and re-coating.
Screening is the process used to abrade or grind down your floor’s polyurethane finish. Next, fresh coats of urethane are applied. The result is a rejuvenated floor that looks as good as the day it was installed!
If the damage to your hardwood floor is severe, then you may require sanding and refinishing. This process involves sanding your floor down to the bare wood and refinishing it. Only go to this effort if screening and re-coating doesn’t solve your problem. Replacement boards may be available so you don’t have to refinish the entire area. Be sure to go pro whenever you have work done on your hardwood floors!
Final Thoughts
All hardwood floors fade or change shades over time. Like our own skin, wood’s exposure to sunlight may greatly increase this process and cause permanent damage.
Window treatments are recommended to shade your floors from the sun’s harsh rays. We also recommend rotating area rugs and furniture regularly, allowing wood floors to age evenly from UV exposure.
To avoid permanent marks and scratches, it’s a good idea to cover furniture and table legs with flannel protectors. Be careful when moving heavy objects across your floor to avoid scuffing.
Ladies — your stiletto heels may be fashionable, but what’s not in fashion (or covered by your warranty) are the dents and scratches they cause to wood floors. I had a friend who held a big dinner party after installing new hardwood floors only to wake up to hundreds of little dents in his brand new (and now not so perfect) hardwood floors. So have a dinner party but keep it casual, nothing fancy. Likewise, trim your pet’s nails regularly and keep any and all other sharp objects (don’t walk with scissors is a good rule always) away from your floors.
Follow these basic tips for clean hardwood floors that stand the test of time for years to come
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