BlogTourNYC: No.5

 architecture, collaborations, decorative, Designer-Maker, events, furniture, homewares, inspirational, interiors, product design  No Responses »
Apr 052013
 

No5 BlogTourNYC: No.5

1.) Brooklyn Bridge in all its glory taken whilst traversing it over to its namesake, 2.) the foyer at the 68, Jay St., Brooklyn studios where Eric Manigian creates his furniture magic, 3.) the only way to take a shower is with Mr Steam. Luxurious showering with steam therapy (complete with aromatherapy, music and lights), can be yours with just the installation of a small generator. Sounds like my kind of shower, 4.) Manhattan skyline taken from the Brooklyn bridge, 5.) Fifty Five Washington Street was the first stop-off for the Brooklyn Design Tour, to see the studios of interior designer, Chris Coleman, and to hear about BKLYN Designs. An interiors show that’s been very busy putting Brooklyn’s talent on the map (thanks to Karen Auster from Auster Agency), 6.) Jenn Air‘s Floating Glass Series, inc.; French door refrigerator, TriFecta™ Dishwasher & Double Wall Oven with V2™ Vertical Dual-Fan Convection System, 7.) a pile of timber at carpenter, Mark Jupiter‘s studio, 8.) the bathroom wallpaper at the Standard Hotel, NY, 9.) the lady of Liberty at sunset during our marvellous BlogTourNYC finale evening boat tour of Manhattan, courtesy of Mr Steam. Thank you!

With many thanks to all the Modenus‘ BlogtourNYC sponsors: Miele, Mr Steam, Silestone by Cosentino, Blanco, Poggenpohl, Du Verre, Barber Wilsons, NKBA, Jenn Air, Victoria + Albert Baths

BlogTourNYC: No.3

 charitables, collaborations, decorative, events, exhibitions, furniture, homewares, interiors, photography, product design  No Responses »
Apr 032013
 

No3 BlogTourNYC: No.3

1.) The American flag, the most common sight in the States, would be my guess!, 2.) The displays at the entrance to the AD Home Design show (which is in part sponsored by Jenn Air) by Devin Delano, 3.) my favourite Barber Wilsons tap, Mastercraft, 4.) Marys and Mimosas, complete with Baked By Butterfield doughnuts. A dangerous (but delicious) breakfast especially when paired with jet lag, 5.) The Architectural Digest display for DIFFA‘s Dining by Design feature, 6.) Victoria + Albert‘s very, very nice Edge 45 basin, 7.) Benjamin Moore’s bright and vibrant display for DIFFA‘s Dining by Design feature, 8.) the latest addition to Victoria + Albert‘s bath collection, the Cabrits, 9.) trade show furniture painted in fabulous New York cab yellow, 10.) the 1890′s with ceramic disc (GCD) tap again from Barber Wilsons

With many thanks to all the Modenus‘ BlogtourNYC sponsors: Miele, Mr Steam, Silestone by Cosentino, Blanco, Poggenpohl, Du Verre, Barber Wilsons, NKBA, Jenn Air, Victoria + Albert Baths

Bridging The Gap

 Art, books, collaborations, colour, decorative, furniture, homewares, inspirational, interiors, London, nice things, product design, shops  2 Responses »
Mar 052013
 

Other Criteria Bridging The Gap

Other Criteria sees the bridging of the big, wide gap that spans between shops and galleries, offering a collection of Damien Hirst’s and other contemporary and emerging artists’ work in shop format. Strictly speaking, they’re an art publishing company, but with this venture sees the opening of two retail outlets in London. Predominantly led by Hirst’s foray into the world of interiors, which is a combination of the curious and the unrealistic, this is a nicely curated selection of homewares for the boldly designed-inclined. Definitely worth a visit if only to indulge the parallel universe fantasy, you know the one: where you’re a millionaire living in a humungous house on Hyde Park without restriction on either space or financials. In terms of prices, do not be fooled, this is far more gallery than shop. With prices around £30-£50k for a rug, this isn’t shopping for the faint-hearted, but then we knew that with the location of the shops. Speaking of the rugs, it was the rugs that I fell in love with, being exact copies of Hirst’s Spin paintings, these hand-knotted wool rugs are fabulous bursts of colour and look fantastic, and all yours as long as you remortgage.

1.) ‘Spot’ clocks, small £305, large £490, 2.) wallpaper range, prices from £205 per roll, 3.) ‘I Am Become Death, Shatterer of Worlds’ bone china plate, £33.50, 4.) ‘Beautiful Primal Urges’ rugs, 100% wool, small £30k, large £50k, 5.) ‘The Rape of Persephone’ wallpaper, £250 per roll, 6.) ‘Beautiful Self-indulgent Spin’ chair, set of 6 chairs, £30k, 7.) ‘Beautiful, amore, gasp, eyesgoing into the top of the headand fluttering painting’ bone china plate, £22.50, 8.) Malambra/ Aquamarine large vase, by Paola Petrobelli, £2,800, 9.) acrylic ashtrays, around £450.

Other Criteria, 36, New Bond Street, London W1S 2RP (020 7629 5800), or, 14, Hinde Street, London W1U 3BG (020 7935 5550)

Stack ‘Em Up

 architecture, Art, colour, decorative, fun things, furniture, inspirational, organisational, photography, random  No Responses »
Feb 132013
 

Michael Johansson Stack Em Up

The more I wander through Swedish artist, Michael Johansson‘s website of sometime-colour-coded-but-always-stacked-up household paraphernalia which for once, actually does include the kitchen sink, the more I like it. Actually, it’s definitely verging more on the love. They are WICKED. And so NEAT. There are a variety of installation spaces, from exhibition to domestic places and areas of whimsy but all executed with the same precision and care. I can’t begin to imagine the time and effort that goes into filling each void but the shopping must be fun. It’s beautiful mundanity.

Colour Wood

 colour, furniture, homewares, inspirational, interiors, London, nice things, product design  No Responses »
Jan 152013
 

Colour Wood Colour Wood

Weirdly, I’ve only just come across these, but better late than never. These sleek little numbers are from Scholten & Baijings, a Amsterdam-based duo renowned for their beautiful and minimalist product design. Surprisingly delicate neon and pastel colour usage and geometric liners patterns are their design signature, and once you see their style looking across their product portfolio, it won’t be long until you start seeing them popping up across the board. These tables are currently on sale at the London-based design shop, TwentyTwentyOne, but before you get excited, I must warn you, even with a discount, they’re still not cheap. You might well need to save your pennies up, or be prepared to be eating beans on toast for a while. A damn good table to eat your beans at though, eh?

Colour Wood, 2010, sale price starts at £648, TwentyTwentyOne
Designed by Scholten & Baijings
Manufactured by Karimoku New Standard
Product code: KARI-T341*

Reviving The Past

 collaborations, furniture, inspirational, interiors, nice things, product design, shops, textiles  1 Response »
Jun 292012
 

G Plan Reviving The Past

Before you all run off screaming, this isn’t yet another blog post about up-cycling, I promise. This post is a look at the collaboration between three parties, all of whom are iconic in their own right, three British hero brands forming a collaboration which makes them all shine. HemingwayDesign (complete with daughter, Tilly) and G Plan (ultimate furniture maker of midcentury design) have created a ‘capsule’ collection of 5 pieces inspired by previous G Plan designs, recreated using modern fabrics and complimented with accent cushions with HemingwayDesign printed textiles. And to the final guest to this marvellous party is high street favourite, John Lewis, where they are being sold. Handcrafted in Melksham, Wiltshire, you can’t get furniture more British than this (whatever that means considering this splendid little island has been built on eons and eons of invasions and immigrants) and if you were wanting a bit of iconic design but don’t fancy either the early starts of antique fairs or trying your hand at upholstering, this is the answer. A prime example of post-modernism for a generation of modernists. Get me.

From top: The Sixty One, The Fifty Three, prices start from £1,200, and finally, The Sixty Seven, prices start from £1,400. Made to order, with a lead time of 6 weeks. Available in a choice of 17 upholstery fabrics.

In With The Nerd

 competitions, Designer-Maker, furniture, homewares, interiors, nice things, product design, shops  No Responses »
Jun 142012
 

David Geckeler In With The Nerd

The Nords (new collective term by me) have done it again. This is the third year in a row that Muuto have hosted the annual design competition for Nordic design students. This year’s has been the biggest yet with over 400 entrants from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland, the Muuto judging board had their work cut out for them. All categories from furniture, lighting and accessories were submitted. Having judged my first product design competition recently, I can only sympathise with the judges’ task. However, a winner was picked, hurrah!, as were two runners up. The 1st prize went to David Geckeler from the Royal Danish Design School for his sleek little number ‘Nerd Chair’ (2nd prize: Caroline Olsson, Akershus University, Norway – Bambi Table; 3rd prize: Marte Straalberg, Bergen National Academy of the Arts, Norway – Sprinkle Lamp). The Nerd chair is a soft-edged design made from a simplistic two pieces of thin curved wood, slotted together on four smooth pole legs. Available in plain wood, obviously, and a range of subtle and bold colours, spanning from black and secondary colours all the way over to pretty pastels. At least one there to please everyone. I look forward to seeing what comes next from Mr Geckeler.

Aristocratic Sitting

 colour, Designer-Maker, furniture, inspirational, interiors, London, product design  No Responses »
May 302012
 

James Aristocratic Sitting

I missed Clerkenwell Design Show this year due to the beginning of shooting Christmas 2012. Really disappointing but I got to enjoy it precariously through websites and from the comfort of my inbox. And lo and behold, one of my favourite independent furniture makers popped his cheery little email-newsletter-face up to say hello. Awwwww, the wave of CDW jealousy and longing washed over me on the sighting of this latest collection from James UK. London-based James Harrison always pulls out the stops and each range is as equally good looking as the last and this one is no exception. Proudly and in a rather stately manner, this collection is called ‘Norton’ and is a range with such sophistication that you can well imagine Bond settling down for a quiet evening in front of the fire in one of these. Truly seats of aristocratic upholstery, if ever I saw. Aristocratic but with the all important contemporary twist. And the colours, I must mention the colours. Not that they need your attention pulled to them. Such pleasure is to be had in the glamourous dimpling, the use of an odd-humble furnishing fabric in amongst the leather, the Britishness of the straight back and the head-held-high-pride of the shape.

From top to bottom, left to right: Norton Wing Chair in green with black; Norton Wing Chair in black; Norton Double Armchair; Norton Side Chair in purple; Norton Double Wing Chair; sizes/colours/ fabrics/ type of wood open to specification, all available from James UK

images with thanks to James UK

My Bauhaus Is Better Than Yours

 Art, collaborations, Designer-Maker, exhibitions, fun things, furniture, homewares, interiors, London, nice things, shopping, shops  No Responses »
May 112012
 

Bauhaus shopping My Bauhaus Is Better Than Yours

I didn’t want to Bauhaus you all out last week so I saved this for today’s little treat. Soooooo much nice stuff, all Bauhaus-y and spectacular. Most of the above can be found in the exhibition shop but I also wanted to share the love out between other retailers, as I know not all of the Barbian items are available to see or buy on-line through the Barbican shop itself. The selection of exhibition-related consumer goods is very strong accompaniment to a very good exhibition. The new in-house buyer knows her stuff and has certainly made an impression on me. There’s nothing worse than coming out of something stonking to find the available treats pappy, and for a small space, they sure know how to cram it full of goodness. Go wild in the aisles of lines and squares.

1.) ’Build Things’ print by Joe Joiner, £49 (special offer ends on the 13/05/2012), Llustre, 2.) Sugar and Creamer, designed by Marianne Brandt and Helmut Schulze at the Bauhaus Steel mirror polished made by Alessi (Includes tray, creamer and sugar tongs), £165, Barbican (available in store and online) 3.) Wassily Lounge Chair, Code: 301, From: £1,428, Aram, 4.) Bauhaus: Art as Life Exhibition Catalogue, £38.95, Barbican (available in store and online) 5.) Stolen from De Stijl ceramic plates, £120 each, Darkroom London, 6.) Stolen from De Stijl large notebook,£29, Darkroom 7.) ‘My Bauhaus is Better than your Bauhaus’ tote bag, £16.95, Culture Label, 8.) Anni Albers Rug, Produced by Christopher Farr, 100% Hand tufted hand spun wool. 122 x 183 cm, £975, Barbican (available in store and online)

The Perfectly Easy Based On Uneasiness

 colour, decorative, Designer-Maker, furniture, homewares, interiors, nice things, product design, shopping, shops, textiles  No Responses »
May 082012
 

Uneasiness and Triangle The Perfectly Easy Based On Uneasiness

Seeing as I liked yesterday’s post on the animation, Uneasiness and Triangle, by Masanobu Hiraoka, so much, I thought I would continue it on today by concentrating on the lovely colour palette. And here is the result. A nice selection from across the UK’s interiors high street (the virtual one as well as the one made of bricks and mortar), not too girly but a nod in that direction. Nowt wrong with that. Warm and inviting without the chintz and the twee normally associated with these sorts of colours. There’s a lot of candy hues continuing over from last year’s trends and we’ll see it continue into AW12 whilst getting bolder and smokier. Lovely tonals of ‘dirty’ colour. Nice. One could say ‘pretty but gritty’ which is just how I like it.

1.) Large Nostalgia Vase, TRJ3234, £18.95, Graham and Green, 2.) Set of 6 coloured glass tumblers, £59, Dwell, 3.) ‘This Storm Would Pass Me’ collage print by Sabrina Tibourtine, £16.95, Pretty Dandy, 4.) John Lewis Barbican Large Sofa, Cossette Green / Light Leg, £1,200, John Lewis, 5.) Candy Stripe Pink, 100% cotton, £22.50 per metre, Ian Mankin, 6.) Centro carafe in purple, 870ml, CX27, £15, LSA, 7.) Leff Amsterdam wall clock ‘Scope 45′, £85, Design 55, 8.) Mutabilis Cushion, Rectangle, £98, Anthropologie, 9.) Cockatoo candle, £14, Rockett St George

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