Aria is located in an atmospheric space in Islington’s Barnsbury Hall. Many of the building’s original features have been restored and they now contrast beautifully with the über-modern lines of contemporary furniture and homewares. High-quality designer pieces are here, as are more unusual pieces, such as Fornasetti’s black and white, hand-painted Antipatico vase (£180) and the Bourgie table light by Ferruccio Laviani (£211). This mix, teamed with a very nice in-store café, makes Aria a pleasure to visit. Chairs are a speciality, with Starck and Arne Jacobsen well represented. Smaller stand-outs include a David Shrigley's cocaine and heroin pots (£79) and pretty Taika bowl (£23.50) that would make a great gift, especially if it had some of Aria’s very tempting selection of toiletries (Cowshed, Savon de Marseilles) nestled inside it.
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