trend-defying kitchen store is a charming labour of love...
Interiors
August 18th, 2010
Trends come and go, but there’s one room in the home where a little traditional and class can go a long way – and that’s the kitchen, or, the “heart of every home” as longtime friends June Summerill and Bernadette Bishop call it. There’s a reason why AGA cookers will never go away, and why the likes of Jamie Oliver’s kitchen accessories tend to hark back to classic styles – and it’s the same reason why both Tricia Guild of Designers Guild, and Ruth Rogers of The River Cafe have declared Summerill & Bishop’s Clarendon Cross shop their favourite kitchen store. It’s that, sometimes, cutting-edge just doesn’t quite cut it in the kitchen… and, whilst Summerill & Bishop may have modern styles amongst their classic lines – the care and attention with which their stock is carefully curated, and sourced from around the world, ensures a warm, characteristic feeling consistently runs through their charming collection…
New York studio luxe-up the humble 'ping-pong' table...
Toys
June 9th, 2010
Not usually high on anybody’s list of desirable objects, the table tennis table is usually covered in cobwebs, bright (but faded) green and invariably used to stockpile another load of crap on top of it in the garage… but then, it seems just about everything these days gets the luxe treatment, ergo the humble ‘ping-pong’ table can now be added to your imaginary Wallpaper*-approved abode. Claiming to redefine the ping-pong table for the “after hours athlete” – New York studio, aruliden have considered the social element of the game for their exclusive Puma design, incorporating a containing section for drinks, snacks and ‘other’, whilst the surface allows for scores, directions and insults to be sketched upon it! All yours for close to 5,000 USD, no word yet on UK retailers…..
unique materials and angles in beautiful apartment renovation....
Architecture
May 18th, 2010
Overlooking a public swimming pool in Fitzroy, Melbourne is ‘The Cubby House’ – a startling extension and renovation of an apartment that sees unusual materials, in particular the ‘oriented strand board’, or plywood to me and you, challenging angles and bespoke fittings all amalgamated with exquisite style and originality by newly established Melbourne architect studio, Edwards Moore. Light, modern and oh so decidedly cool – bulldog ‘Jimmy’ doesn’t know just how lucky he is…..
Photography by Peter Bennetts
gothic wallpaper with mind-blowing optical effects...
Interiors
April 28th, 2010
Designed by Carnovsky – aka Milan based design duo Francesco Rugi and Silvia Quintanilla – for Italian wallpaper manufacturer, Jannelli & Volpi, and debuting recently as part of their showcase at Milan’s Design Week, RGB is a hauntingly gothic collection of wallpapers that show an array of chilling images, depending upon the colour of light shone at it…. Perhaps not the sort of thing for your own boudoir, yet nonetheless, a visual treat for interior designers searching for innovative and stimulating products for contemporary public spaces…..
remixing the history of Chinese and European porcelain....
Interiors
April 26th, 2010
China’s long tradition in the production of porcelain, which for many centuries Europe tried to imitate, has recently been replaced by the export of products that predominantly imitate European wares… it’s upon this irony that CTRLZAK Art & Design Studio’s CeramiX project focuses, bringing together East and West in ‘remixed’ compositions that challenge the origins and purposes of each original piece. CTRLZAK present a 24 piece ‘Art Collection’ – with original pieces from East and West reassembled to create new, innovative works, and a ‘Design Collection’ that comprises of a plate, a bowl and a cup in white glazed ceramic – following the central theme, yet in the style of a fashion house’s diffusion line. Greek, Thanos Zakopoulos and Italian, Katia Meneghini, have created a truly unique collection that questions centuries of international culture, whilst adding value to the sum of both parts with the delivery of their exciting new collections….
dramatic New York state home is shrouded in symbolism....
Architecture
March 8th, 2010
Located near the world famous site of Woodstock, 100 miles north of New York City, Ben Ryuki Miyagi’s dramatic renovation of a 1960s home employs what the architect describes as ‘The Landscape of Geometric Mythology’ and was “designed as if a series of mysterious objects from (an) unknown planet have landed on this peaceful landscape with a story to tell”. There’s certainly unique architectural symbolism on show here, with more than a little Asian influence from the Japanese architect, and with additional structures surrounding the villa such as the ‘House of Solitude’, ‘Sky Mirror’, and ‘Tower Gate’, it’s clear that the landscape of the site as a whole is as important to the designer as the home itself. Challenging, unique and, well, frankly more than a little frightening, Villa Metamorphosis is a true one-off – and if you stumbled across this property on a pilgrimage to the famous site of Woodstock, you could easily be forgiven for thinking that acid is responsible for what you see before you….
origami inspired super-home is the ideal holiday retreat....
Architecture
March 1st, 2010
Seems like another week, another inspirational dose of architecture from Australia’s capital of cool, Melbourne… albeit it that McBride Charles Ryan’s mathematically designed Klein Bottle House is a one and half hour drive from Australia’s second city, nestled between the tee-tree and the sand dunes of the Mornington Peninsula. Based upon the rather over-whelming model of the ‘Klein Bottle’, developed by topological mathematicians – yeah that’s enough education for today – this rather lavish holiday home is the kind of outrageously designed property that people in the ’60s thought the future would look like and, well, we sure wish it did. Laden with international awards, the Klein Bottle House is a refreshing reminder of how thinking outside of the box, literally, can deliver truly inspired results….
brilliantly simple lighting concept from Estonian designer....
Interiors
February 26th, 2010
We’re loving the simplicity of this lamp shade from Estonian designer Pavel Sidorenko. Designed for Adensen, a fledgling furniture manufacturer founded in Valga on the border of Latvia, the 360° Lamp comprises simply of one sheet of plastic, mirrored on one side, allowing the shade to interact with the light to your own requirements, offering supremely stylish flexibility…..