Modular from Marina Bautier

We like the look of this modular seating system with lamp from Marina Bautier For us this is a product that would work wonderfully in a waiting room or on an enclosed balcony.

Modular from Marina Bautier

Spoon Table by Kartell

In the wake of the success of their Spoon chair, Kartell have now launched an accompanying table from Antonio Citterio.
Unmistakably Kartell.

Spoon Table and Spoon Chair both by Antonio Citterio for Kartell

Skin by Nacho Carbonell

With the Skin collection for Droog, Nacho Carbonell's intention is to revive one’s curiosity in what might be hidden underneath.

The outermost layer of these pieces can be stretched over the things you keep around you, hiding yet revealing daily messes. With forms and their heights inspired by fantasy and dreams, Nacho Carbonell aims to change the point of view on things.

Skin by Nacho Carbonell for Droog

All-In-One Card Stamp

Thanks to the ever excellent design-milk for this witty stamp for all of us who know that we need to congratulate someone, but can never remember why.

Gangsta Lean by Matt Braun

In the past few weeks I've been spending an increasing amount of time on Etsy.
Lot of things there that do not really appeal to me, but also one or two that do such as these Gangsta Lean record holding modules from Matt Braun.
$35 dollars the piece for the piece of mind of knowing that your vinyl is safe.

Gangsta Lean by Matt Braun

Umbrella Shoulder Holder

Inspired madness from amazon japan (and via visual culture, thank you very much)
A loop that goes round your shoulder, holds your umbrella and keeps your hands free for more impoprtant jobs.
It's soo simple, yet soo good.

The only info I have is you can buy it from amazon japan.

Sorry

Clutch Light by Scott Jarvie

Wonderful lamp from Scottish designer Scott Jarvie. Based on the structure of xylem, Jarvie's clutch "series" is created from common or garden drinking straws.

The light source comes from the middle and as it passes through the reflective straw material is refracted creating a wonderful bright yet inoffensive "jeweled" effect.

And it looks fantastic.

Clutch Light by Scott Jarvie.

500 pencils

It's like retweeting ... just with out tweeter.
The ever gorgeous ladies at design_sponge brought my attentuon this morning to the most fantastic pencil collection - 500 pencils.
Every 20 month you will be sent 25 pencils - hence the name - which build up into a mighty fine collection of exquisetly coloured pencils.
And there is range of holders available in which to display your collection.
Just a gorgeous idea.
More details at http://500pencils.socialdesigner.com/

The complete 500 pencils collection as wall decoration

Monarchy Rocking Stool by Yiannis Ghikas

Thanks to core 77 for drawing our attention to Monarchy Rocking Stool by Greek designer Yiannis Ghikas. In the desigers own words:

Monarchy is a stool, it is a rocking stool.

It rocks sideways and it rocks back and forth. Monarchy also swivels.

Monarchy is designed not to be overturned but at the same time allows the user to escape the dullness of the ultimate stability.

The swivelling function is probably the best


Judge for yourself in the nice little product video....

Beach Locker by Ecotots

Browsing through the wonderful Modern Echo, I discovered this equally wonderful childrens storage unit from Indianapolis based design studio Ecotots. Perfect for clothes, shoes, games ... and all those other things that kids generate.
Made from just five pieces of formaldehyde-free, FSC Certified, environmentally-friendly real wood and featuring a durable, 100% non-toxic water-based finish, this tot-sized locker assembles in minutes, no tools assembly method and is at home anywhere in the house.
Wonderful.

Beach Locker by Ecotots

Liesmichl by Moormann

Most other blogs seem to have picked up on Easy Reader by Moormann as the Moormann product from Milan.
We however are big fans of his Liesmichl side table.

Despite all appearances to the contrary, there is a genius at work there.

Liesmichl by Nils Holger Moormann

Bubble Club from Phillipe Starck

We have started dreaming of summer, and in doing so are reminded of one of those products we always wanted to buy....but just never quite got round to.
Bubble Club from Phillipe Starck is an outrageous sofa/armchair/table set made entirely from plastic and available in a range of pastel colours.
Perfect for an urban balcony, country poolside terrace or company forecourt.

Bubble Club Sofa and armchair by Phillipe Starck for Kartell

The design genius of Charles + Ray Eames

I know it's "doing the rounds" at the moment, but if you are interested in the design work of Charles and Ray Eames the TED talks video is well worth a look.

Thanks to myhouseismycastle for drawing my attention to Modern Echo and for all to this wonderful Alkira Accessory Chair from Californian based KAA Design Group. And the best news is that it is now available through designpublic.

Since I've been on a "wooden" trip this week here is some wonderful ideas from Maker Magazine for recycling your old analogue TV.

Convert your old TV to a bar

Or a fish tank

More ideas at Make magazine

Bookwave by Mehtap Obuz for ilio design

Looking for a novel storage option for my office I stumbled across this wonderful Bookwave by Mehtap Obuz - only I can't find much more information about it.
Help!!
As far as I can deduce from the ilio catalogue it is made from felt, hangs on rails and so is expandable and retractable left and right. And it appears to be 210 long.
But more important is perfect for storing all those small, unstoreable things that gather in all offices.
Great.

Bookwave by Mehtap Obuz for ilio design

The wooden iPod

Following on from last weeks Pooktre post, more timber-based design, this time from Australia.
According to the legend, upon buying himself a new iPod Josh D set about fulfilling a long considered project - the wooden iPod
Particularly impressive is the wooden clickwheel.
It reminds me lot of a prototype, and so expect a PR heavy Apple promotion before tooooo long ;)
But it does look good.... All the pictures can be found on Josh D's flickr page.

TIME clock by Ignacio Pilotto

Although I'm not entirely sure if this idea from Argentinian Industrial Designer Ignacio Pilotto could ever reach production other than as marketing gift from Time magazine; the idea is wonderful.
And I really hope that no one else has created something similar - such a simple, witty idea deserves to have gone unnoticed for almost 100 years :)

TIME clock by Ignacio Pilotto

Baggu - Grocery kit and produce bag

If your anything like me then when you go to go the market you invariably come back with a dozen plastic bags from different stalls.
Even though you know it is wrong.
You can however solve that problem with these handy bags from Baggu.
The reusable produce bags allow you to safely and conveniently store fruit and veg, and with a pouch of grocery bags you always have a bag to hand, and those that are not in use are conveniently and stylishly stored away.
Made from a 100% ripstop nylon the Baggu range I find them a wonderfully convenient article for that weekly trip to the market.

Produce bags from Baggu

The Outlet Wall

I've started the weekend early and that's all due to Ironic Sans and their fantastic Outlet Wall
And so I share it here with you all.
Happy Weekend.

Outlet Wall -another ingenious idea from Ironic Sans

LIVING FURNITURE: the Pooktre Tree Chair

Probably the ultimate in sustainable, handmade furniture.
Thanks to Inhabitat for drawing our attention to the Pooktre Garden Chair.
It took ten years to reach the stage shown in the photos, but if you ask me was worth every single day.

Pooktre Garden Chair - and Pook

Individual camera straps

The boys and girls at design sponge have a great tip on how you can customize your camera strap.
Amusingly enough I'm going to buy a new camera this week, now thinking how I can customize the strap.

Happy Stitching!

Button-Up by Gumbo Studio for Bent Hansen

Just received an eMail with these gorgeous button coat hooks from Danish producer Bent Hansen; produced using the same techniques as "normal" buttons - simply scaled up by a factor of 10.
The version B1 is available in fabric or leather; the B2 version is plastic with a range of "thread" colours available.
Perfect.

Button up by Gumbo Studios for Bent Hansen - available as an upholstery or plastic button

Google Maps alphabet

Little bit "off-message" today but love this post on myhouseismycastle.
I don't know if it's real or not, and if I'm honest i don't actually care.
I just think its great.

Google Earth Alphabet. The original article can be found at oddee.com

The Blogadilla Swedish Furniture Name Generator

Here's a great device for all small scale designers battling against a certain Swedish retailer.

Create your own Swedish product name - guaranteed marketing success ... Or a great way to waste half an hour on a Monday morning :)

Although obviously intended for furniture I find the name generator also works for all design products ....

I'd buy one

Buy Handmade

I've now taken the pledge.



I will, however, still feature "industrially produced" products assuming that they originated from a designer but then on account of their form and functionality achieved a popularity that made an industrial production necessay and unavoidable.

Handworkers are also allowed to earn a sensible income :)

But designers must be supported.

Super Contemporary @ London Design Museum

Off to London this weekend, amongst other things to check out the new "Super Contemporary" exhibition at the Design Museum.

The show presents 15 new commissions from some of London's most dynamic designers including Tom Dixon, Paul Cocksedge and David Adjaye.

Reports and photos next week.

New rubbish bin design by Paul Smith

Still Looking

Honest :)
Other priorities have sadly kept me away from the blog recently,
But things are calming down now and I plan to start making regular updates again.....
Starting tomorrow :)

First of all I need to get up to date with my sea of RSS feeds....

Lockheed Lounge by Marc Newson

We imagine London auctioneers Phillips de Pury were glad they had Lockheed Lounge by Marc Newson in yesterdays catalogue.
Aside from the new world record price of £1,105,250the chair made up almost half the total income from the sale.

Lockheed Lounge by Marc Newson

Tom Dixon Spin

More good work from Tom Dixon. Spin is a wonderful range of candle holders that revolve around various axis and a such can be adjusted and placed as required.
Excellent.

Diz Decor Vinyl stickers

Instead of trying to hide plugs and cables, designer Julia Wolf created vinyl stickers for the Brazilian company Diz Decor which emphasise the »electronic chaos«. Birds and clouds can be arranged personally.

Diz Decor stickers by Julia Wolf

Pyramid bookcase by Fitting

We just adore this pyramid bookcase from Italian producer Fitting.
The practicality of the system is at this moment less intersting - it just looks great.

Pyramid bookcase from Fitting

Lazy Bastard for Montis

A beanbag sits and fits like a glove. With Lazy Bastard for Montis dutch designer Bertjan Pot combines the casualness of a beanbag with the comfort of a lounge chair. He placed the beanbag as it were on legs, in a smooth outer shape that contains the flexible contents. Lazy Bastard allows for extra comfortable sitting as its seat is higher and fitted with armrests.
And it looks fantastic.

Lazy Bastard by Bertjan Pot for Montis

Fergana by Patricia Urquiola

Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola is one of the busiest people in Milan at the moment.
We particularly like her Uzbeki inspired Fergana sofa for Italian producer Moroso.

Fergana by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso

Edra's new Cipria sofa by Brazilian brothers Humberto and Fernando Campana is a deliberately iconic piece. The settee has 9 cushions fixed to an invisible metal tube frame, the stuffing is Gellyfoam® and Dacron wadding while the ecological fur covering comes in different hair lengths to produce variations on the original theme.
Or George Nelson's Marshmallow Sofa for a new generation.

Cipria by Humberto and Fernando Campana for Edra

Quilt by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec

Also amongst the new products in Milan will be the new Quilt Sofa by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Established and Sons.
We wonder if it is as comfortable as it look.

Quilt Sofa by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Established and Sons

Brave New World by Freshwest for Moooi

British design duo Freshwest will be presenting their first collaborations with Moooi at next weeks Milan trade fair.
Among the works this somewhat Jurassic looking lamp "Brave New World"

Brave New World by Freshwest for Moooi

Soft Parcel by TAF

What could be the easiest way to upholster a piece of furniture? Swedish designers TAF took a piece of foam and wrapped it with fabric in the same way you make a parcel. The fabric looks like paper and the product becomes a gift. Wonderfully witty and original.

Soft Parcel by TAF

kkaarrlls in Milan

Post from Karlsruhe design college.

As part of this years Milan furniture trade fair the college will be presenting a showcase of some 20 designs from college students.
And for our taste there are a couple of very interesting designs amongst on show.

Here you can find more information on kkaarrlls (sadly only in German)

kkaarrlls: Broom multi socket

kigokoro lamp by studio ito for yamagiwa

Thanks to designboom for this wonderful lamp by studio ito for Japanese lighting producer yamagiwa.

If we're honest we find the ceiling mount a little disappointing, but the rest of the light is just wonderfully innovative.

kigokoro lamp by studio ito for yamagiwa. More pictures at designboom

Salone Internazionale del Mobile

Next week the 48th Salone Internazionale del Mobile begins in Milan. I won't be there but the world and his wife will be and I'm already looking froward to some of the reports that will undoubtedly arise.
Wallpaper will, as ever, be there in force and design.nl are planning fairly extensive coverage - albeit exclusively over the dutch contingent in Milan. And we're not sure if they designws.com folks haven't planned a little bit too much, but were sure that they will produce quality texts as ever.

A blogger hard at work in Milan

John A. Harris : Mitochondria Chaise Longue

The A. stands for Alfredo and although we don't normally have much enthusiasm for "rustic" wood furniture we are very impressed by John A. Harris's Mitochondria Chaise Longue. Crafted from American Black Walnut with a steel under frame it just oozes long summer evenings with a good book.

AMBER in the SKY by perludi

designspotter.com have brought our attention to a wonderful range of childrens furniture by Austrian producer perludi.
Created from beach plywood and loden the products are not only child-friendly but 100% recyclable.
We are especially impressed by the AMBER in the SKY bed. Not only is it a little lower than conventional childrens bunk beds - an important safety consideration - but the space below allows for a wonderful range of uses; creative for kids and boringly practical for parents.

AMBER in the SKY by perludi

alleinwohner.ch

Demographics being what they are the future will be dominated by single-person households.
And according to alleinwohner.ch the future is already here, at least in the Alps, "In urban Switzerland more than every fourth household is kept by a single living man."
The soloution - a wonderful range of outrageous - and if we're honest downright macho - furniture for the man who has everyting, except a steady partner.

Ironing-Table by alleinwohner.ch

Extendable dining table by Antonio Citterio for Vitra

Extending tables have something undeniably 1970s about them, and Antonio Citterio's new extending table for Vitra beautifully reinforces this impression.
A wonderfully elegant design - we find the combination of the light oak veneer with the polished aluminium legs especially charming - it is a table that will fit wonderfully in any dining room or any conference room.

Fuller details can be found at vitra.com.

Extendable dining table by Antonio Citterio for Vitra

Ron Arad exhibition in London

On Wednesday an exhibition of new works by Ron Arad opens in the Timothy Taylor Gallery in London.
Grouped around a freestanding star of interconnected walls designed by Arad, the show
will unveil a number of highly sophisticated experimental pieces, many only recently
produced and on display for the first time.
Famed for furniture such as his Bookworm shelving system or buildings such as the Maserati headquarters showroom in Modena, Italy or the foyer of the Tel Aviv opera, Arad's style is not necessarily to everyone liking. But always worth a look.
The exhibition runs from 8 April until May 9th