The Beat That My Heart Skipped – A blog dedicated to daily design inspirations. By Rohini Wahi.

Yesterday I was at the home of the owners of The Afghan Kitchen in Islington, working on a shoot with photographer Rachael Smith and her assistant Esther. We shot at home with the lovely Habib while his wife took care of the restaurant. At the end of our day [2pm, we were quick!] Habib phoned his wife and asked her very kindly to look after us, and we were sent off up the winding old streets of Islington to their pride and joy ‘The Afghan Kitchen’.

I wish I had taken more pictures as the Kitchen is a real independent treasure, they have no website and they don’t need to advertise. The restaurant/cafe thrives through word of mouth of their delicious home cooked fare and prices that haven’t changed in 16 years!.

Overlooking the Islington green, the Kitchen is layed out over two floors of a townhouse and is painted in a serene green. Utilitarian in design, candles dot the communal benches and it’s wide windows promise cosy and romantic dining with views of old London.

Food is simple and flavoursome and the menu is composed of 4 meat and 4 vegetarian dishes with a smattering of sides and freshly baked seeded Afghani bread in the evenings. As they closed up between 2pm and 5pm, we were treated to slow cooked chicken in a symphony of yogurt sauce [there is also a vegetarian alternative of this], melt in the mouth lamb curry with the most delicious soft potatoes, thick and creamy lentils and aubergines coated in yogurt and chilli oils – all accompanied by the fluffiest rice. Main dishes cost between £4.50-£6 – go here, you will not regret it! Thanks Habib and Zaheeda!

Last year we featured Rhonda Drakeford, founder of new London concept store Darkroom in My Inside Life. I thought I’d share the inside of the striking store created by herself and partner Lulu Roper-Caldbeck.

Part art installation, part retail store, the space is a platform to showcase high-end design talent and also to sell their own successful line of interiors and fashion accessories.Walls and are painted black with black and gold graphic motifs on the floor. The products are displayed on black and blue cubes throughout the store like in an art gallery. I love how the the shop plays with scale and flashes of colour with the ‘dark room’,

The shop also stages bi-monthly art and sculpture exhibitions.

What a clever  and completely natural way to display your store’s wares… Stylist Janie Jackson, who launched herself at 100% Design, has just opened the doors of her West London home [by appointment only] to entice us all with her beautifully styled and lived in homewares – much of which she has made herself.

Nestled near Portobello Road, her shop/home Parma Lilac stocks the most exquisite furniture and accessories with a dreamlike quality. Janie herself has designed her range of furniture, including a brushed-steel bed, a modular day bed with centre shelf running down the middle, opal perspex windows, and clear Perspex shelving. Amongst treasures sourced elsewhere are graceful bentwood stools and delicate white ceramics, chandeliers made from strips of porcelain and textiles you would be happy to make your final resting place!

For an appointment, call Janie Jackson on 020 7912 0882.

Above image from Paumes London Ateliers Guide.

Finally a place to hang my hat! This is the discovery I have been waiting for! My love of acessable illustration and art prints is high on my list of passions, and our move this weekend leads me to a place where there are no restrictions on wall-hangings  [up till now my bookshelves and various surfaces have doubled as my art gallery]. So this wonderful shop on Columbia Road will be my my first stop after I slot my last book into place in my new home.

Elphick’s is a gallery/shop and studio owned by the artist Sharon Elphick known for her photographic montages of high-rise architecture. Located at 160 Columbia Road, London E2, Elphick’s acts as a studio during the week and a gallery/shop on a Sunday to coincide with the famous flower market.

Elphick’s sells Sharon’s work, other artist and illustrators work alongside carefully selected vintage ceramics, greetings cards and design led gifts. Luckily for readers not based in London, you can buy Elphicks wares online – hoorah!

I have my eye on this wonderful print by James Brown for my hallway… kind of perfect don’t you think?

There is something scandalous and naughty about this decadent ‘High Socie-tea’ room…

From January the recently refurbished Front Room of the Flemings Hotel will be offering Perrier Jouet Champagne, cupcakes from the Primrose Bakery and London’s first savoury Martini afternoon tea!

The uniquely decadent signature Savoury Martini afternoon tea will be served with exquisite cheese straws made to the Chef’s special recipe to nibble on, followed by a black pudding Scotch egg, and finishing with a dark chilli chocolate tart!

The cupcakes on the other hand on offer, will be unashamedly indulgent layer cupcakes from the world renowned Primrose Bakery. The famously irresistible cupcakes are created using the best-quality seasonal ingredients, exquisitely decorated to look like myriad mini works of art – tiny pink sugar rosebuds, vivid lilac flowers and rainbows of sprinkles nestle in butter cream toppings in pastel shades of pink, cream, mint green and primrose yellow!

One more reason to look forward to the New Year!